NASA is set to roll out its Artemis 2 moon rocket from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 17, 2024. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will embark on a journey of approximately 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) to Launch Complex-39B, a process expected to take between eight to ten hours aboard the agency’s Crawler-Transporter 2 vehicle. This significant step is crucial as NASA aims to launch Artemis 2 during its opening window on February 6, 2024.
Following the rollout, mission managers will conduct essential systems integrations and tests to prepare the SLS for a fueling and countdown simulation known as a “wet dress rehearsal.” This rehearsal is scheduled for February 2. If all goes well, Artemis 2 will mark the first crewed mission to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, although it will not land on the lunar surface. Instead, the mission will involve a crew of four astronauts looping around the moon on a “free-return trajectory,” returning to Earth after approximately ten days in space.
The astronauts on this groundbreaking mission include NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. They will travel farther from Earth than any humans in history, observing the far side of the moon and testing systems aboard the Orion spacecraft to ensure it can support a crew in space.
Challenges Ahead for Artemis 2 Launch
The timeline for Artemis 2 is ambitious. NASA’s goal to complete the wet dress rehearsal on February 2 and potentially launch as early as February 6 requires flawless execution. Previous missions, such as Artemis 1, faced delays due to fueling issues and equipment failures, which delayed its launch by over six months.
NASA’s Jeff Radigan, lead flight director for Artemis 2, emphasized the importance of thorough preparation. “This is not a rush,” he stated during a pre-rollout press conference on January 16. He acknowledged the need for both Artemis 2 and the upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to be meticulously coordinated but assured that NASA will not compromise on readiness for either mission.
The Crew-11 mission recently concluded with a medical evacuation, leaving the ISS with only three crew members. NASA is targeting a launch date of February 15 for Crew-12, just after Artemis 2’s initial launch window. Radigan noted that launching both missions simultaneously would not be prudent.
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director for Artemis 2, stated that the outcome of the wet dress rehearsal would largely determine if the mission is ready to fly within its February window, which includes potential launch opportunities on February 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
Future Missions and Continued Preparations
If Artemis 2 cannot launch in February, NASA plans to regroup for another attempt in March, with possible launch dates on March 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, or in April, on April 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
John Honeycutt, chair of the Artemis 2 mission management team, reassured that NASA will prioritize safety and readiness. “We’re going to do our job to be ready to go fly,” he said, underscoring the agency’s commitment to thorough preparation before giving the green light for launch.
As the countdown to Artemis 2 continues, NASA remains focused on ensuring that all systems are go for what could be a historic mission in space exploration.
