NASA is pressing ahead with preparations for the first launch of humans beyond low Earth orbit in more than five decades, and officials said Tuesday that the Artemis II mission could take flight early next year. Although work remains to be done, the space agency is now pushing toward a launch window that opens on February 5, 2026, officials said during a news conference on Tuesday at Johnson Space Center. The Artemis II mission represents a major step forward for NASA and seeks to send four