Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue preparing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for its crewed launch as early as Wednesday, April 1. After rolling to Launch Pad 39B on top the mobile launcher on March 20, teams began securing the rocket, spacecraft and launch platform to the pad infrastructure to ensure there is power supply and communications with the rocket and ground teams. The emergency egress baskets were connected to the mobile launcher, and the crew access arm was extended to support access into the White Room – the location where personnel can access Orion.
In the days leading up to launch, technicians will conduct pad-specific engineering tests for ordnance connectivity on the flight termination system, radio frequency testing for the core stage and Orion spacecraft and complete final closeouts of the rocket and spacecraft before getting into launch countdown.
The four members of the Artemis II crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – began their quarantine period on March 18, to ensure they stay healthy leading up to launch. While avoiding close contact with anyone not quarantining alongside them, they are continuing some training activities at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, reviewing procedures and plans for the approximately 10-day mission.
The crew will fly to Florida on Friday, March 27, and spend the remainder of their quarantine at NASA Kennedy. Details on their arrival and other mission events and milestones will be available shortly.
