Preparation for the Capcom role for Artemis II includes hundreds of hours in simulators running nominal and off-nominal scenarios.
Artemis II is being prepared for launch in the weeks ahead as a flight test.
Teams discovered a helium issue on the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage after Artemis II hardware was returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Teams prepared actions for Artemis II hardware that included replacing batteries in the flight termination system and conducting end-to-end testing for range safety requirements.
NASA is preparing to roll the Artemis II vehicle out to the launch pad in the coming weeks.
Artemis II was rolled back from the launchpad into the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center to address helium-related fueling problems on a rocket stage.
A helium flow issue was discovered with the Artemis II rocket.
NASA expects a launch of Artemis II to be possible in early April if the fueling problems are resolved.
Engineers determined the helium flow issue on the Artemis II rocket and repaired it.
NASA is targeting a potential launch of Artemis II in April.
NASA will avoid larger planned modifications to the Space Launch System and Orion configurations following Artemis I, the upcoming Artemis II flight test, and a more robust test approach for Artemis III due to remaining development and production risks.
NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carried the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft into the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 25, 2026.
Artemis II, a crewed lunar flyby, was delayed from a planned March launch to no earlier than April due to technical issues.
Once troubleshooting is complete, the Artemis II SLS rocket will roll back to Launch Complex 39B to prepare for the Artemis II test flight.
The Artemis II SLS rocket’s upper stage is the interim cryogenic propulsion stage.
The feasibility of the lunar catapult concept depends heavily on the success of the Artemis II and Artemis III missions scheduled for March 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Artemis II is a test flight that will launch four astronauts around the Moon and return them to Earth.
Returning the Artemis II stack to the Vehicle Assembly Building is necessary to gain full access to the upper stage hardware.
The four-person Artemis II crew has been released from launch quarantine and remains in Houston while work proceeds in Florida.
Configuring the vehicle for rollback preserves the option to launch Artemis II during the April launch window.