Artemis II Crew Gets First Look at Orion Spacecraft
The crew members slated to fly on NASA’s Artemis II circumlunar mission had an exciting visit to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The astronauts, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Orion spacecraft that will carry them around the Moon and back to Earth.
The crew visited the Orion crew capsule, which is now in its final testing phase before being connected to its power and propulsion module. The astronauts expressed their awe and excitement at seeing the spacecraft for the first time.
Christina Koch, a mission specialist on the Artemis II mission, said, “We all said when we walked up to it the first time, that it gave us chills, and it really does. So it’s a new way that I feel bonded with this crew and also with the team.”
This visit is just the beginning for the crew as they prepare for their historic mission—the first human flight to the vicinity of the Moon since 1972. They will continue to visit Kennedy Space Center for testing and checkouts, including a full-up end-to-end test of the spacecraft’s software, cockpit displays, and life support system.
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman described the experience of looking inside the spacecraft as “great” and praised the fit and finish of the hardware. He noted that seeing it in person gave him a sense of how far along the project is, saying, “The hardware is nearly ready.”
While progress has been made, there is still work to be done. The connection of the two Orion modules is now expected in mid-September, which is a few months later than originally forecasted. Jim Free, leader of the NASA division responsible for developing hardware for the Artemis lunar program, stated that the crew module element is currently driving the launch date.
Preparations are running behind schedule, and a delay into 2025 is likely. Free emphasized the importance of assembling and testing the crew module to meet the target launch date. He said, “We have to get the crew module assembled and tested, and then mated to the service module, and turn it over to the ground systems folks here for processing.”
NASA recently held a review to assess the results of the Artemis I lunar mission. While the test was deemed successful, there are a few lessons learned that are still being reviewed. One of the main issues involves the Orion heat shield, where post-flight inspections revealed unexpected variations in the appearance of different parts.
NASA is currently investigating the performance of the heat shield, conducting arc jet and wind tunnel tests to understand the conditions seen during Artemis I. Changes to the heat shield for Artemis II are unlikely, but adjustments may be made for future missions.
Despite the challenges, NASA officials reassured the public of the crew’s safety. Discussions are ongoing to find the right solution for the heat shield issue, with the crew emphasizing that they will not launch until they are confident in the readiness of the vehicle.
As the Artemis II mission progresses, the Orion spacecraft will undergo a series of integrated pressure tests to evaluate its environmental control and life support system. The spacecraft’s handover from the production team to the operations team is expected next April, marking another milestone in the mission’s timeline.
With each step forward, the Artemis II crew and their supporting teams are working diligently to ensure a successful and safe mission to the Moon and back.