After multiple delays to the upcoming mission sending four astronauts on a journey around the moon, NASA confirmed in a press briefing today that Artemis II remains on schedule for a potential launch date of April 1. Lori Glaze, the acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, stated that following the Flight Readiness Review (FRR), all teams have given the green light to proceed with the launch of Artemis II pending the completion of some tasks.
Emphasizing the test nature of the flight and the associated risks, Glaze mentioned that the team and equipment are prepared for the mission, with plans to move out to the launch pad next week. The press conference focused on NASA’s flight readiness review, a crucial step before the launch.
Glaze also revealed that an additional launch date, April 2, has been included in the launch window, allowing Artemis II to take off anytime between April 1 and April 6. The mission will feature Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, orbiting the moon.
The astronauts are scheduled to enter quarantine on March 18 before heading to the Kennedy Space Center on March 27. Earlier, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) was moved to the launch pad in January, intending for a February launch. However, delays ensued due to technical issues during wet dress rehearsals, including hydrogen leaks and problems with helium flow to the upper-stage engines.
NASA has since addressed these issues by resolving the helium problem, installing new batteries, and planning a retest of the flight termination system. In a recent development, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced a change to the Artemis program, shifting the focus of Artemis III from a lunar landing to a test mission involving docking with lunar landers developed in collaboration with SpaceX and Blue Origin.