NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, carrying the uncrewed Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Complex 39B in Florida at 1:47 a.m. EST. The primary goal of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems before crewed missions by operating the spacecraft in a deep space environment, testing Orion’s heat shield, and recovering the [...]

The mission management team has polled “go” to proceed with the terminal count sequence. The launch director is also “go” and teams have set a new target launch time of 1:47 a.m. EST and the countdown clock  resumed at 1:37 a.m. With approval from the launch director and managers, a series of countdown milestones [...]

Teams have extended their planned 30-minute hold, and mission managers are expected to target a new time for launch. The Eastern Range and launch teams have since resolved an issue that caused a loss of signal from a radar site and are currently in the process of conducting required tests to ensure communication and tracking [...]

Teams are replenishing liquid hydrogen into the core stage and report seeing good data where a red crew tightened connections in the area of a leaky valve on the mobile launcher. The leak is not reoccurring. Engineers are back into liquid hydrogen fast fill operations on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. Engineers also are [...]

The red crew has departed the launch pad and is now outside the designated danger area surrounding the pad. The technicians entered the zero deck, or base, of the mobile launcher and tightened several bolts to troubleshoot a valve used to replenish the core stage with liquid hydrogen which showed a leak with readings above [...]

Technicians who are part of the “red crew” of personnel specially trained to conduct operations at the launch pad during cryogenic loading operations have arrived at the launch pad. They will enter the zero deck or base of the mobile launcher to tighten connections to ensure a hydrogen valve used to replenish the core [...]

Engineers have paused flowing liquid hydrogen into the core stage because of a small leak on a hydrogen valve inside of the mobile launcher. A team of personnel called a red crew is being assembled to go to the pad to make sure all of the connections and valves remain tight. The valve is located [...]

Teams are in fast fill operations for the interim cryogenic propulsion stage’s (ICPS) liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks. The ICPS is the upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket responsible for giving the Orion spacecraft the big push it needs in space to head toward the Moon. Teams continue to work toward [...]

Engineers have completed filling the core stage liquid oxygen tank and have moved into the replenish phase. Teams are beginning operations to load liquid hydrogen into the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage.

Engineers have completed filling the core stage liquid hydrogen tank, and have moved into the replenish phase. Core stage liquid oxygen fast fill is still underway. Although the LH2 tank is larger than the LOX tank, LOX is denser than LH2 and takes longer to load. Teams continue to work toward a two-hour launch [...]