After multiple delays in the timeline for the upcoming mission to orbit the moon with four astronauts, NASA revealed during a press briefing today that Artemis II remains on schedule for a potential launch as early as April 1. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, confirmed that following the Flight Readiness Review (FRR), all teams have given the green light for the Artemis II mission pending the completion of some final tasks.
Emphasizing the test nature of the flight and the associated risks, Glaze stated that the team and equipment are prepared for the mission. The plan is to transfer the hardware to the launch pad next week. The press conference focused on NASA’s flight readiness review, a crucial step before the launch.
Glaze also announced an expanded launch window, extending from April 1 to April 6, with the addition of a new proposed launch date on April 2. The upcoming Artemis II mission will involve Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch on a trajectory around the moon.
The crew is set to enter quarantine on March 18, followed by their arrival at the Kennedy Space Center on March 27. Earlier, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) had been rolled out to the launch pad in January with a planned launch in February. However, delays ensued due to technical issues during wet dress rehearsals, where the rocket is fueled with hydrogen and liquid oxygen in a simulated launch scenario.
Hydrogen leaks and subsequent problems with helium flow to the upper-stage engines prompted delays following the initial wet dress rehearsal. NASA addressed the issues, including installing new batteries for key components and planning to retest the flight termination system as a safety measure.
Recently, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced revisions to the Artemis program, with Artemis III now aimed at testing the docking capabilities with lunar landers developed in collaboration with SpaceX and Blue Origin, foregoing the original plan for a lunar landing.
Image caption: An official crew portrait for Artemis II, featuring NASA Astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Taken in March 2023. (NASA)