Countdown Begins for Artemis II Mission Marking Historic Returns to Lunar Proximity

The countdown to a historic milestone in human space exploration has begun, as the Orion spacecraft prepares for its first crewed journey near the Moon since the early 1970s. Early on Saturday, January 17, the spacecraft, along with its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket encased in its mobile launch platform, made its way to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center. This marks just the second mission for the SLS, but it carries immense significance as the Artemis II mission will see astronauts venture into deep space for the first time since Apollo 17.

The crew of Artemis II, which is dubbed Integrity, consists of four astronauts who will embark on a ten-day mission that loops around the Moon before returning to Earth, ultimately splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast. Notably, the crew will not orbit the Moon but will still reach a point approximately 7,500 kilometers from the lunar far side, breaking records for human space travel distances.

Commanded by Reid Wiseman, a former chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office, Artemis II includes pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from Canada. This crew will make history in various ways: Koch will be the first lady, Glover the first person of color, and Hansen the first non-American to participate in a deep space mission. All three NASA astronauts are seasoned space travelers, having previously spent time on the International Space Station, while Hansen will be making his inaugural flight.

This rollout event is particularly significant as it’s the first crewed mission launch to lunar proximity since August 28, 1972, when Apollo 17’s Saturn V departed for its journey. Artemis II’s infrastructure draws from many elements of the Apollo program, including Launch Complex 39, the Vehicle Assembly Building, and the Crawler Transporter, all of which were crucial to the success of earlier missions.

At just after 7:00 AM EST, the Mobile Launcher rolled onto a nearly seven-kilometer-long crawlerway, carefully constructed with river rock to bear the immense weight of approximately 15 million pounds combined. After eight hours of traversing the crawlerway, despite some minor hardware issues, Artemis II successfully arrived at Launch Complex 39B, well ahead of its expected timeframe.

As the Mobile Launcher begins to ascend from the crawlerway to the launch pad, it will be leveled meticulously before the rocket is attached to the site’s infrastructure. Upcoming preparations include a wet dress rehearsal, which is scheduled for the evening of February 6. This critical test will simulate a launch countdown and involve loading propellant, with the results determining whether Artemis II can launch as planned.

Similar to Artemis I, which faced a high number of delays during its preparations, Artemis II has its own set of streamlined processes designed to mitigate potential problems. Unlike its predecessor, its flight termination system can now be accessed without needing to return to the Vehicle Assembly Building, enhancing efficiency.

The Artemis II mission, which holds the promise of reestablishing human presence in deep space, will have specific launch windows influenced by lunar cycles. LC-39B, which hosted a high number of notable missions in the past, is set to see its 61st launch with this upcoming mission and will serve as the launch pad for all Artemis missions on the SLS.

As anticipation builds for this crewed lunar flyby, a successful Artemis II flight could set the stage for Artemis III, poised to fulfill the goal of returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the closing days of the Apollo program.