Artemis II: Final Preparations Underway

Live updates are being published as NASA prepares for the launch of the Artemis II test flight. Coverage is available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. All times referenced are Eastern.

Securing Orion for Flight

Hatch Installation and Seal Checks

Technicians have begun installing the crew module hatch service panel on the Orion spacecraft, a crucial step in ensuring a secure flight. Teams are meticulously confirming all systems around the hatch are properly sealed.

NASA engineers are conducting counterbalance mechanism operations and hatch seal pressure decay checks inside the White Room at Launch Complex 39B. These checks verify Orion’s hatch maintains pressure integrity and the counterbalance system functions correctly.

The counterbalance mechanism, a precision-engineered assembly, offsets the weight of the hatch, allowing for smooth operation. Technicians are verifying load distribution and locking features under simulated launch conditions. Seal pressurization decay checks are also being performed to confirm the hatch’s airtight integrity.

Crew Access and Final Systems Checks

Astronauts Board Orion

The Artemis II crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen – are now boarding the Orion spacecraft to begin communication checks. Before entering, the crew signed the inside of the White Room, continuing a tradition dating back to the Gemini program.

The closeout crew is assisting the astronauts with donning their Orion Crew Survival System helmets and gloves, and ensuring they are securely buckled in. Closing the crew module and exterior launch abort system hatches is a meticulous process, taking up to four hours to ensure airtight seals.

Suit Integrity and Communication Readiness

Following communication checks, suit leak checks are being performed to ensure each pressure suit maintains integrity in case of cabin depressurization. These operations are vital for crew readiness and mission assurance.

Journey to the Launch Pad

Tradition and Travel

The Artemis II crew has begun the walk to the elevator at Launch Complex 39B, a tradition followed by NASA astronauts since Apollo 7 in 1968. Before leaving the suit-up room, the crew engaged in a card game, a long-held spaceflight tradition where the commander loses to “burn off” bad luck.

The crew arrived at Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft await. They will take an elevator up the pad’s fixed service structure and walk down the climate-controlled crew access arm to the White Room.

Pad Operations and Safety

Rescue and Closeout Teams

NASA’s pad rescue and closeout crew teams have arrived at Launch Complex 39B to ensure safety and readiness during fueling operations. The rescue team is prepared to respond to any emergency, while the closeout crew is responsible for securing the Orion hatches and verifying pad configurations.

Crew Suiting Up

Preparing for Deep Space

The Artemis II crew is suiting up inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters at Kennedy Space Center. Suit technicians are assisting them with their Orion Crew Survival System suits, designed for mobility, comfort, and maximum safety.

Mission Overview

Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, an approximately 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth. It will send the crew farther from Earth than any previous human mission, potentially breaking the record set by Apollo 13. The mission will test life-support systems and critical operations in deep space, paving the way for future lunar landings and Mars exploration.