NASA rolls its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule between the vehicle assembly building (VAB) and pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida using the crawler-transporter 2, the heaviest self-powered land vehicle on Earth. [Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett]
Key Takeaways:
NASA plans to launch its historic crewed Artemis II mission around the moon in April, following previous delays, as a critical test flight for future lunar landing attempts.
The mission carries significant acknowledged risks for its four astronauts, with officials estimating the chance of success closer to 1 in 2 due to the novelty of the flight.
Despite prior technical issues during rehearsals, NASA is proceeding without a third wet dress rehearsal to preserve the vehicle, and has addressed crew concerns regarding the heat shield by modifying the reentry profile for this mission.
NASA on Thursday said it intends to attempt the launch of a historic, 10-day mission around the moon and back in April, following slips from launch windows in February and March.
Officials also acknowledged the mission—as with any journey beyond low-Earth orbit—may risk the lives of four crewmembers.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
