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Earlier today, NASA\u2019s Artemis II rocket\u00a0once more\u00a0began\u00a0rolling\u00a0out\u00a0from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space\u00a0Center\u00a0in Florida, US, and has now arrived at its launch pad ahead of the first crewed flight towards the Moon in over 50 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Riding atop its mobile launcher, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft\u00a0travelled slowly but surely\u00a0at a crawl, covering 6.5 km in about 12 hours, with teams\u00a0monitoring\u00a0every\u00a0step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is the rocket\u2019s second trip to the pad \u2013 it first made the\u00a0journey in January.\u00a0Since then, teams rehearsed key launch operations, including fuelling the rocket and running through the final countdown to liftoff.\u00a0A wet dress rehearsal was successfully completed in February, with the rocket fully\u00a0loaded with its cryogenic propellants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, following this test, engineers\u00a0identified\u00a0an\u00a0issue in the rocket upper stage helium system, used to pressurise the propellant tanks.\u00a0The rocket was\u00a0subsequently\u00a0rolled back\u00a0to the Vehicle Assembly Building for inspection and repairs.\u00a0The safety of the crew\u00a0remains\u00a0the top priority, with teams working carefully to ensure all systems perform as expected ahead of launch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, teams have resolved the issue, carried out\u00a0additional\u00a0checks, and replaced batteries across key systems. In mid-March, after a flight readiness review with programme partners including ESA, NASA confirmed\u00a0all teams had polled \u2018go\u2019\u00a0for launch in early April.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mission is targeting the following launch opportunities (CEST):\u00a0<\/p>\n
Powering Orion on this historic voyage is ESA\u2019s second European Service Module. This crucial part of the spacecraft will power and propel Orion through deep space, provide\u00a0air\u00a0and\u00a0water\u00a0and\u00a0control the temperature inside\u00a0for the four astronauts. Built by over 20 companies across 10 ESA Member States led by prime contractor Airbus, the module reflects\u00a0nearly a\u00a0decade of work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s contribution continues throughout the mission, where the engineers who know the\u00a0module\u00a0the best will be supporting around the clock from ESA centres in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as from NASA\u2019s Johnson Space\u00a0Center\u00a0in Houston.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n