LIVE: NASA holds briefing on Artemis II moon mission

Final GO for April 1 launch

The Mission Management Team completed the L-minus 2 review with full concurrence to proceed, confirming no open issues remain after the agency Flight Readiness Review.

Vehicle and systems status

All flight hardware, ground systems, and engineering assessments show the vehicle is ready, with the countdown clock officially starting at 4:44 p.m. two days before launch.

Communication fixes resolved

Previous communication issues have been addressed through network isolation capabilities and comprehensive testing conducted during the wet dress rehearsal.

Cryogenic loading schedule

Tank loading is planned for 7:34 a.m. EDT on April 1, with the potential to begin earlier if teams complete preparations ahead of schedule.

Crew insertion procedures

The crew will depart for the pad just before 2:00 p.m. on launch day for communications checks and final vehicle configuration before the T-minus 10-minute hold.

Mission duration

NASA refers to the flight as a 10-day mission despite the precise duration being 9 days and 1 hour, with splashdown planned for April 10 following an April 1 launch.

Late stow cargo

An avatar for tissue effect studies, a zero-gravity indicator, and medical kits were loaded between L-minus 30 and L-minus 24 hours, with replacement protocols in place for extended scrubs.

Transatlantic abort support

Medical equipment and facility agreements have been secured across Atlantic abort landing zones to support potential emergency diversion scenarios.

Artemis roadmap

Uncrewed lunar lander demonstrations are scheduled for 2027 to validate robotic landing before crewed attempts, supporting the broader campaign for a lunar base and deep space nuclear propulsion.