The Orion spacecraft, designated to carry four astronauts on a historic mission around the Moon, reached the expansive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida late Thursday night. This significant transfer, covering approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers), marks a crucial step in preparations for the highly anticipated Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch early next year.
Despite the ongoing government shutdown that began on October 1, NASA and its contractors are diligently moving forward with the Artemis II preparations. The White House has approved the program as an exception, allowing work to continue uninterrupted. This sustained effort positions Artemis II for a potential launch date as early as February 5, 2024.
The Artemis II crew consists of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, who will be the first humans to venture near the Moon since 1972. This groundbreaking 10-day flight will not only test the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft but also pave the way for future lunar exploration.
Designed and developed by Lockheed Martin, the Orion spacecraft has undergone several critical stages since departing its manufacturing facility in May. First, the capsule was transported to a fueling facility, where technicians loaded it with essential propellants, including hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, which will power Orion’s main engine and maneuvering thrusters during its journey to the Moon and back.
In addition to propellant loading, high-pressure helium and ammonia coolant were integrated into the Orion’s propulsion and thermal control systems. Following this, the Launch Abort System, a vital safety feature designed to detach the capsule from the rocket in the event of a launch failure, was installed. The Orion spacecraft stands approximately 67 feet (20 meters) tall when combined with its service module, crew module, and abort tower, representing a significant engineering achievement.
Following these preparations, the Orion spacecraft was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where teams have been working tirelessly to assemble NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. In the coming days, cranes will lift the 78,000-pound (35 metric tons) spacecraft high above the VAB’s center aisle, carefully positioning it atop the SLS heavy-lift rocket. Workers will meticulously secure the spacecraft using 360 bolts to ensure a solid connection.
Once assembled, the 322-foot-tall (98-meter) rocket and spacecraft will undergo final tests and checkouts within the VAB, the same facility that previously prepared space shuttles and Apollo missions for flight.
One of the pivotal activities planned in the VAB involves a countdown rehearsal with the Artemis II crew. During this rehearsal, the astronauts will practice their launch-day procedures by configuring the Orion cockpit for flight, although the rocket will not be fueled for this exercise. Additional tasks for the remainder of the year include testing the rocket’s destruct system, which safeguards against potential deviations from the planned flight path.
NASA anticipates moving the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B in January, ahead of the targeted February 5 launch date. At the launch pad, the team will conduct a practice countdown, this time fueling the rocket with super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This crucial test aims to verify all systems are functioning correctly before the actual launch day.
Last month, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Artemis II launch director, expressed confidence that previous hydrogen fuel leak issues have been resolved, thanks to improvements made to valve designs and fueling procedures demonstrated during the Artemis I countdown.
Assuming the countdown rehearsal is successful, the launch team will be prepared for the real launch attempt shortly thereafter. Unless significant issues arise at the launch pad, officials do not plan to return the rocket to the VAB.
On launch day, astronauts Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen will take their positions inside the Orion spacecraft hours before liftoff. Their journey will commence with an astonishing 8.8 million pounds of thrust propelling them off the pad. Within minutes, the Launch Abort System will detach, revealing the Orion crew capsule as they embark on their historic mission to the Moon.
