Artemis II Crew Prepares For Historic Mission With Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test

The Artemis II astronauts, donning bright orange launch suits, emerged from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, waving to the gathered media and NASA employees. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, made their way to the Artemis II transport van, marking a significant step toward the official countdown.

This visit to Kennedy Space Center was not for the actual launch, but for a crucial terminal countdown demonstration test. On December 20, the crew ran through launch day operations, simulating every detail, right up to boarding the Orion spacecraft atop the massive SLS rocket, still housed in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The upcoming 10-day test flight around the moon, slated to launch from Pad 39B, will be a critical milestone.

The success of Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to land humans back on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. A permanent lunar outpost is being planned for 2030, which will include a nuclear power reactor ready for launch. This outpost is envisioned as a stepping stone for further space exploration, specifically preparing for a manned mission to Mars.