As 2026 nears, NASA continues moving forward to launching and flying Artemis II, the first crewed mission under the Artemis campaign, no later than April next year. NASA’s Orion spacecraft, complete with its launch abort system escape tower, is now integrated with the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at […]
Category: Exploration Ground Systems
NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Secures Critical Abort System Hardware for Artemis II
All the pieces are stacking up – literally – for NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program coming in 2026. Teams are finishing integration of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II test flight with its launch abort system on Sept. 17 inside the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in […]
NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Secures Critical Abort System Hardware for Artemis II
All the pieces are stacking up – literally – for NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program coming in 2026. Teams are finishing integration of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II test flight with its launch abort system on Sept. 17 inside the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in […]
NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Ready to Fly Crew
NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket poised to send four astronauts from Earth on a journey around the Moon next year may appear identical to the Artemis I SLS rocket. On closer inspection, though, engineers have upgraded the agency’s Moon rocket inside and out to improve performance, reliability, and safety. SLS flew a […]
NASA’s Artemis Crew Trains in Moonbound Orion Ahead of Mission
The first crew slated to fly in NASA’s Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission around the Moon early next year entered their spacecraft for a multi-day training at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Crew donned their spacesuits July 31 and boarded Orion to train and experience some of the conditions they can […]
I Am Artemis: Joe Pavicic
Listen to this audio excerpt from Joe Pavicic, Artemis operations project engineer Joe Pavicic will never forget when he told the Artemis launch director teams were NO-GO for launch. Before Artemis I lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November 2022, the launch team made multiple launch attempts the months prior. […]
NASA, DoD Practice Abort Scenarios Ahead of Artemis II Moon Mission
NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD) teamed up June 11 and 12 to simulate emergency procedures they would use to rescue the Artemis II crew in the event of a launch emergency. The simulations, which took place off the coast of Florida and were supported by launch and flight control teams, are preparing NASA […]
I Am Artemis: Lili Villarreal
Lili Villarreal fell in love with space exploration from an early age when her and her family visited the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. So, it should come as no surprise that when the opportunity came for her to start working on NASA’s Artemis missions to return the next humans to the Moon, she jumped at it.
Integrated Testing on Horizon for Artemis II Launch Preparations
Teams responsible for preparing and launching Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are set to begin a series of integrated tests to get ready for the mission. With the upper stage of the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) integrated with other elements of the rocket, engineers are set to start the tests […]
NASA Progresses Toward Crewed Moon Mission with Spacecraft, Rocket Milestones
Engineers, technicians, mission planners, and the four astronauts set to fly around the Moon next year on Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission, are rapidly progressing toward launch. At the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, teams are working around the clock to move into integration and final testing of all SLS (Space Launch […]