In this press briefing, NASA leadership provided a comprehensive status update on Artemis II, the historic mission set to return humans to lunar orbit for the first time in almost 54 years. Panelists, included:
- Lakiesha Hawkins, acting deputy associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- Judd Frieling, lead Artemis II ascent flight director, NASA Johnson
- Jeff Radigan, lead Artemis II flight director, NASA Johnson
- Rick Henfling, lead Artemis II entry flight director, NASA Johnson
- Daniel Florez, test director, Exploration Ground Systems, NASA Kennedy
The briefing focused on the rigorous testing of flight systems, crew safety protocols, and the mission timeline. The mission is currently targeting a launch window of no later than April 2026 but with a current launch date of no earlier than February 5, 2026. The mission will send the four-person crew—including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
The other crewmembers are Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), and Christina Koch (Mission Specialist 1).
Key Takeaways
- Mission Timeline: The program remains on track for a Spring 2026 launch. Teams are currently working through “integrated simulations” to practice every phase of the mission, from launch countdown to splashdown.
- System Readiness: The Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are undergoing final integration. The panel emphasized that this flight is primarily a test mission designed to stress-test life support, manual piloting capabilities, and communication systems before future lunar landings.
- Flight Profile: The mission will follow a “hybrid trajectory.” After launch, the crew will perform a high-Earth orbit check of life support systems (taking approximately 24 hours) before committing to the translunar injection burn that sends them around the Moon and back.
- Safety First: Much of the Q&A focused on risk mitigation, including the heat shield performance and emergency abort scenarios. NASA reiterated that crew safety is the primary driver for all schedule decisions.