There is a window on the 2nd. But you don't aim for the second half of the launch period and hope you make it, you aim for the start to allow time to resolve issues without waiting for the next window (which is the end of the month).
That's probably a "layman's terms" translation of a more technical term NET April 1, which would be "Not Earlier Than" and is widely used in the industry.
Being a few months behind schedule is forgivable for human space flight.
If a SpaceX Falcon blows up on the pad, that's one thing. It's expensive but they accept that risk to move faster. At least they gain knowledge of what failed, to do better next time.
You can't apply that mentality once a human is piloting it however. That's how you get Columbia, Challenger, or Apollo 1.
> If a SpaceX Falcon blows up on the pad, that's one thing. It's expensive but they accept that risk to move faster. At least they gain knowledge of what failed, to do better next time.
Assuming it's not carrying a SpaceX Crew Dragon with crew onboard ;)
Also, it's a bit of a dated metaphor. Falcon 9 is by most accounts, now the most reliable rocket in history and is pretty design-locked. The modern metaphor is SpaceX Starship :)
Then we just have to see if SpaceX can pull off orbital refueling at scale.
Starship 3 first launch will be in April as well https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2026/03/11/spacex-st...
April 1 is an in interesting choice for a big event that will be news if it goes well and bigger news if it goes badly
They don't really have a choice. The launch window is small and they either make it or they don't.
There is a window on the 2nd. But you don't aim for the second half of the launch period and hope you make it, you aim for the start to allow time to resolve issues without waiting for the next window (which is the end of the month).
What factors are there for the lunar launch window?
It can't be weather, here, right? That's too far ahead.
Is it perigee?
If this window is missed, when is the next one?
The position of the moon relative to the earth and the sun. The windows are about a month apart.
Well at least there’s a 50% probability of success
"April fools, your space shuttle just disintegrated!"
Can't they just schedule it for March 32nd?
They are snip hunting that day.
Surely they are joking?
The whole program is a joke.
“As early as April 1” is a weird way to describe something that is two months behind schedule
That's probably a "layman's terms" translation of a more technical term NET April 1, which would be "Not Earlier Than" and is widely used in the industry.
Being a few months behind schedule is forgivable for human space flight.
If a SpaceX Falcon blows up on the pad, that's one thing. It's expensive but they accept that risk to move faster. At least they gain knowledge of what failed, to do better next time.
You can't apply that mentality once a human is piloting it however. That's how you get Columbia, Challenger, or Apollo 1.
> If a SpaceX Falcon blows up on the pad, that's one thing. It's expensive but they accept that risk to move faster. At least they gain knowledge of what failed, to do better next time.
Assuming it's not carrying a SpaceX Crew Dragon with crew onboard ;)
Also, it's a bit of a dated metaphor. Falcon 9 is by most accounts, now the most reliable rocket in history and is pretty design-locked. The modern metaphor is SpaceX Starship :)
As it's currently March, April seems very close to me. I didn't know there was a moon flight planned so this is a great headline to me.
I didn't even know we were within years of putting people around the moon, so I was surprised!
Seeing how the last test at the beginning of Feb found hydrogen leaks, it does sound very early to me
Why? They fixed it.
Messaging is everything!
Six day launch window April 1-6.
Operation: Sike! is a go! ;)