After multiple delays to the upcoming mission sending four astronauts around the moon, 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, stated that following the Flight Readiness Review (FRR), all teams have given the go-ahead for the Artemis II mission pending the completion of necessary tasks.
Emphasizing the test nature of the flight and its associated risks, Glaze mentioned that the team and equipment are fully prepared for the mission, with plans to move to the launch pad next week. Today’s press conference primarily focused on NASA’s flight readiness review, a critical step towards the impending launch.
Glaze also announced an extension to the launch window, now spanning from April 1 to April 6, providing flexibility for the Artemis II mission. The mission will see Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen join 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 before heading to the Kennedy Space Center on March 27. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) was previously rolled out to the launch pad in January, but faced delays due to technical issues during wet dress rehearsals involving hydrogen and helium leaks.
Following the resolution of these issues, including addressing the helium flow problem and installing new batteries for various components, NASA is gearing up for the upcoming launch. Notably, a change was announced for the Artemis program by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, with Artemis III now planned as a test mission to dock with lunar landers developed in collaboration with SpaceX and Blue Origin, rather than aiming for a lunar landing as initially intended.
