NASA’s Artemis II Spacecraft on the Launch Pad

In this picture, the Artemis II mission’s Orion spacecraft is proven positioned on Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The picture exhibits the second stage, comprising the Orion Crew Module, the European Service Module, the Launch Abort System, and the spacecraft adapter, all enclosed by the second-stage panels. Just seen beneath is the higher part of the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s next-generation super-heavy launch car that may ship crewed spacecraft and payloads past Low Earth Orbit (LEO) within the close to future.

The picture was taken on Jan. 17th, 2026, coinciding with the *Artemis II* mission’s rollout from the Launch Assembly Bay on the Kennedy Space Center. Since then, NASA has been placing the totally stacked Orion spacecraft and first stage booster by way of their paces, testing how all its techniques perform independently and collectively. NASA additionally carried out the long-awaited “wet dress rehearsal” yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. third), consisting of the profitable loading and unloading of cryogenic propellant into the rocket.

The roughly 49-hour costume rehearsal started on Saturday, Jan. thirty first, at 08:13 p.m. EST (05:13 p.m. PST). Cold temperatures brought on a delay with tanking operations because it took time to carry some of the propellant interfaces all the way down to acceptable temperatures earlier than propellant might be loaded once more. The floor crews efficiently stuffed all tanks in each the core stage and the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. At about 5 minutes left within the operation, the bottom launch sequences routinely paused the countdown because of a spike within the liquid hydrogen leak fee.

Similarly, a beforehand changed valve related to the Orion crew module’s hatch pressurization additionally required retorquing, additional delaying closeout operations. However, the rehearsal was profitable, and engineers and floor groups proceed to conduct pre-launch checks and preparations. NASA has additionally up to date the launch window for *Artemis II*, which was initially scheduled for no prior to Feb. eighth. The Agency is now concentrating on March because the earliest launch alternative, permitting their floor groups to evaluate information from the 2-day tanking/untanking and to conduct one other rehearsal earlier than the flight take a look at.

The *Artemis II* mission would be the first crewed flight of this system, validating the launch system and spacecraft for the long-awaited return to the lunar floor. The mission will final 10 days and encompass a circumlunar flight that takes the crew across the Moon with out touchdown earlier than returning them safely to splashdown within the Pacific Ocean. The mission will take a look at communication applied sciences to assist future long-duration missions to the lunar floor by deploying CubeSats in lunar orbit to relay optical transmissions from the far aspect of the Moon to Earth.

The mission may also take a look at different applied sciences important to deep-space exploration, together with life assist, avionics, energy techniques, and superior thermal safety. NASA at present plans to launch Artemis III by 2027, pending completion of a Human Landing System (HLS) able to rendezvousing with the Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit and touchdown a two-person crew on the Moon for prolonged floor operations. Beyond returning to the lunar floor, NASA’s long-term goal is to determine an everyday cadence of lunar floor missions that may result in a “sustained program of lunar exploration and development.”

Further Reading: NASA