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
NASA Teams Continue Artemis II Preparations at Launch Pad Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue preparing the SLS 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 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.March 25, 2026 5:11PMCategoriesArtemis 2AstronautsExploration Ground SystemsKennedy Space CenterOrion Multi-Purpose Crew VehicleSpace Launch System Also Featured InArtemis More from MissionsPrevious PostNASA’s Artemis II Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad 39BMarch 20, 2026
Astronauts Exploration Ground Systems Kennedy Space Center Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Space Launch System (SLS)
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA pushes space industry to use the ISS as a test ground for future stationsFaced with the imminent retirement of the International Space Station, NASA is pushing to speed up work on its potential replacements
Read more »
NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space PolicyAs part of its “Ignition” event on Tuesday, NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve President Donald J. Trump’s
Read more »
NASA Abandons Its Ambitious Lunar Space Station in Major Shake-UpThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
Seiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceSeiko is bringing back the Rotocall, a retro ‘80s watch with a unique rotating mode dial favored by several NASA astronauts who wore it to space.
Read more »
NASA announces ambitious plans for a space station on the moonNASA’s new chief is reshaping the space agency’s goals, unveiling at an event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday an ambitious vision that includes revamped plans for a moon base.
Read more »
The Future of Space Stations - Part II: Commercial SpaceWith the ISS set to retire in 2030, several plans are in place to replace it. These include existing space stations, proposals by rising national space agencies, and commercial space stations. In terms of the commercial space sector, the plans are diverse and numerous.
Read more »