NASA is now aiming for an April 1 launch for its Artemis II mission. This mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon and back.
The decision came after a thorough flight readiness review. Lori Glaze, from NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, confirmed that all teams gave the "go" for the mission.
The Crew and Mission Details
The crew for Artemis II includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will also be part of the mission. All four astronauts attended the flight readiness review.
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Start Your News DetoxNASA had initially planned an earlier launch this month. However, after a successful fueling test in February, engineers found a problem with the rocket's helium system. This system helps regulate pressure in the fuel tanks.
Mission managers decided to move the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center for repairs.
Fixing the Issue and Looking Ahead
Technicians fixed the helium problem by replacing a seal. With the repair complete, ground teams plan to move the rocket back to its launch pad on Thursday.
Glaze noted that there is still work to do both inside the Vehicle Assembly Building and at the launch pad. She emphasized that NASA will launch only when the hardware is fully ready.
The crew will begin quarantine at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on March 18. They will then travel to Florida on March 27.
Artemis II has a six-day launch window from April 1-6. This mission will be the first time humans have traveled to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
