NASA Teams Readying Artemis II Moon Rocket for Launch

5 hours ago

NASA is preparing the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II launch, targeting 6:24 p.m. EDT on April 1.
Launch day weather forecast shows 80% favorable conditions, with monitoring for cumulus clouds, ground winds, and solar weather.
Engineers completed health checks on the RS-25 engines, charged Orion and core stage flight batteries, and performed pressure suit regulator leak checks.
Pad preparations include clearing non-essential personnel and shifting to final configuration ahead of cryogenic loading.
On launch day, the ground launch sequencer will automate final commands, and inert nitrogen will replace air in rocket cavities for safety.
NASA will broadcast tanking operations and launch coverage on various platforms, including NASA+, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed Artemis mission, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon.

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