Artemis (NASA moon mission)

[arthwollipot]

Possibly as early as the 6th of Feb. But they'll go when they're good and ready.

Nasa readies its most powerful rocket for round-the-moon flight

Artemis II mission could launch on 6 February, sending astronauts on a 685,000-mile journey

www.theguardian.com

 

[arthwollipot]

Artemis II is on the launch pad. Wet dress rehearsal is scheduled for no later than the 2nd.

NASA’s Moonbound Artemis II Rocket Reaches Launch Pad - NASA

At 6:42 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 17, NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft reached Launch Pad 39B after a nearly

www.nasa.gov

 

[arthwollipot]

Artemis wet dress rehearsal (why does that sound like preparing for a Burlesque show?) has begun.

Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: ‘Go’ for Tanking - NASA

At approximately 11:25 a.m. EST, the Artemis launch director, in coordination with the mission management team chair, gave the “go” to begin loading cryogenic

www.nasa.gov

 

[bigred]

Anyone else find it odd that we're about to go back to the moon and it's not even headline news? I know this isn't the 60s and all, but...

 

[theprestige]

Anyone else find it odd that we're about to go back to the moon and it's not even headline news? I know this isn't the 60s and all, but...

If you'd told someone in 1973 that we wouldn't be back until the mid 21st century, they'd find it odd.

I also find it odd, but for entirely different reasons.

 

[Puppycow]

Anyone else find it odd that we're about to go back to the moon and it's not even headline news? I know this isn't the 60s and all, but...

They're not going to actually land on the moon this time, and frankly it's not clear when that will actually happen.

 

[arthwollipot]

Anyone else find it odd that we're about to go back to the moon and it's not even headline news? I know this isn't the 60s and all, but...

I'm pretty sure that when Artemis II launches - in a few days, probably - it'll make the news.

They're not going to actually land on the moon this time, and frankly it's not clear when that will actually happen.

There's issues with the lander. Specifically, they don't have one yet.

 

[AmyStrange]

I'm pretty sure that when Artemis II launches - in a few days, probably - it'll make the news.


There's issues with the lander. Specifically, they don't have one yet.

If they ever do land on the moon again, I wonder if they'll use that same spot that the conspiracy theorist believe was used the last time... just kidding.

 

[Trebuchet]

Hydrogen leak issues. Again. But they seem to have achieved full tanks. We'll see if Scott Manley has something for us tomorrow.

 

[a_unique_person]

The lander will be ready sometime this year.

 

[arthwollipot]

The lander will be ready sometime this year.

Since the lander was supposed to be a SpaceX Starship, I highly doubt that.

 

[Puppycow]

The lander will be ready sometime this year.

I doubt it. If it is ready, there will be other things that aren't ready.

 

[a_unique_person]

Since the lander was supposed to be a SpaceX Starship, I highly doubt that.

I didn't say I believed that.

 

[bigred]

They're not going to actually land on the moon this time, and frankly it's not clear when that will actually happen.

I know, but still

 

[arthwollipot]

Wet dress rehearsal completed successfully. Several issues were identified, which appear to be associated with the cold weather, and the launch window has now been pushed back to March.

NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity - NASA

NASA concluded a wet dress rehearsal for the agency’s Artemis II test flight early Tuesday morning, successfully loading cryogenic propellant into the SLS

www.nasa.gov

 

[Puppycow]

the launch window has now been pushed back

Well color me surprised!!! Lol, not. Not the first or last time we will hear that I'm sure.

 

[a_unique_person]

They're not going to actually land on the moon this time, and frankly it's not clear when that will actually happen.

They won't even be going into orbit.

 

[Puppycow]

They won't even be going into orbit.

Even Apollo 8 did that (it was the first time). This won't even be a dress-rehearsal like Apollo 10, which had all of the requisite equipment including the lunar lander I think.
The timeline was
Apollo 8 December 21–27, 1968
Apollo 9 March 3–13, 1969
Apollo 10 May 18–26, 1969
Apollo 11 July 16–24, 1969

Mere 2-3 months between these missions. If we assume that Artemis II does launch on the current schedule, that's March 7th at the earliest (over 4 years since Artemis I), and Artemis III will happen no sooner than 2028 and may not even be a crewed mission (or at least not a crewed landing).

As of February 2026, NASA officially expects Artemis III to launch no earlier than 2028. Due to heat shield issues on Orion and delays in the development of Starship, NASA officials have expressed an openness to flying Artemis III without a crewed landing.

 

[rjh01]

You must remember that NASA had a near unlimited budget to land someone on the moon. And do it quickly. They were willing to take huge risks to do so. Now the budget is much reduced and safety is a much higher priority.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Wet dress rehearsal completed successfully. Several issues were identified, which appear to be
associated with the cold weather, and the launch window has now been pushed back to March.

NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity - NASA

NASA concluded a wet dress rehearsal for the agency’s Artemis II test flight early Tuesday morning, successfully loading cryogenic propellant into the SLS

www.nasa.gov

Better check those O-rings!