First Human Lunar Flight in 50 Years, Final Verification Stage
NASA has entered the final preparation stage with the launch of Artemis II (Artemis II) — humanity's first crewed mission toward the return to the moon — imminent. NASA plans to soon begin the procedure for moving the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the launch pad.
NASA plans to move the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B, targeting January 17 at the earliest. This move covering approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) uses a large crawler-transporter and takes up to 12 hours. However, the schedule may be adjusted depending on technical inspections or weather conditions.
Acting Director of NASA's Exploration Systems Development Directorate Lori Glaze stated "we are one step closer to Artemis II" and that "all procedures are being conducted with crew safety as the top priority throughout the launch preparation process."
Various technical inspections and corrections were carried out in parallel during the actual launch preparation process. A portion of cables connected to the flight termination system was found to be out of specification and replacement work was carried out, and an Orion hatch pressurization valve issue was also recently successfully resolved. Leakage issues in ground support equipment related to oxygen injection were also improved.
Once the move to the launch pad is complete, NASA will connect various ground support equipment including power, fuel lines, and environmental control systems, and enter comprehensive inspection to verify that the rocket, spacecraft, and launch infrastructure are operating in normal conjunction. Subsequently, Artemis II crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will perform final inspection procedures at the launch pad.
In late January, the Wet Dress Rehearsal — a key pre-launch test — will be conducted. In this test, more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant will actually be loaded into the rocket and the entire launch countdown process will be replicated. Conducted without crew, it is a critical stage for verifying launch pre-procedures and emergency response capabilities.
In this process, NASA plans to pay particular attention to the liquid hydrogen injection process flagged as problematic in the previous Artemis I mission and gas accumulation issues around the Orion crew module. If necessary, additional rehearsals or return to the assembly building are not excluded.
If the Wet Dress Rehearsal is successfully completed, NASA will hold a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) to comprehensively evaluate the readiness of all systems, infrastructure, and operational organizations before confirming the launch date. Currently, after February 6 is being reviewed as the first possible launch date.
Artemis II is a test flight lasting approximately 10 days, following a trajectory where the Orion spacecraft makes a close flyby of the moon and uses gravitational assistance to return to Earth. This is the first crewed mission in about 50 years of humans flying beyond low Earth orbit.
Through this mission, NASA plans to verify life support systems, spacecraft navigation and return capabilities, and lay the technical foundation for future lunar landing and long-term stay, and further human exploration of Mars. Artemis II is evaluated as a symbolic milestone announcing not merely a test flight but that human deep space exploration has resumed in earnest.
