Artemis II Mission Details
The Artemis II mission will fly NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a nine-day journey around the moon and back. This mission will demonstrate the SLS rocket’s performance with a crew onboard and prepare the way for a future landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.
“This is our second flight of the SLS rocket, and we’ve incorporated lessons learned from Artemis I to improve fueling procedures and address potential leaks or mechanical issues,” said Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson. “We are fully prepared for the wet dress rehearsal and remain confident in our ability to launch safely when conditions allow.”
The wet dress rehearsal involves fully loading the SLS rocket with cryogenic propellants, testing valves, plumbing, and umbilical connections under operational conditions. It is a critical step to ensure the rocket is ready for the actual lunar mission. The rehearsal countdown will begin at 8 p.m. EST Saturday, with fueling scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, followed by a simulated launch window opening at 9 p.m.
