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Orion Spacecraft

All articles tagged with #orion spacecraft

Artemis II’s Moon-bound Ride: Inside Orion, SLS and the Crew
space1 month ago

Artemis II’s Moon-bound Ride: Inside Orion, SLS and the Crew

NASA’s Artemis II episode of NASA’s Curious Universe previews the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, detailing the Orion spacecraft’s life-support, hygiene, and seating layout plus the astronauts’ crew identity “Integrity.” It also dives into the Space Launch System rocket—its powerful solid boosters, core stage engines, and onboard flight computers—and explains how NASA uses extensive simulations and human-in-the-loop testing to safeguard the four-astronaut crew (Glover, Wiseman, Koch, Hansen) as they loop around the Moon and return to Earth, building on Artemis I lessons for a sustained lunar presence.

Artemis II advances toward the Moon as NASA rolls the SLS to the launch pad
space-exploration1 month ago

Artemis II advances toward the Moon as NASA rolls the SLS to the launch pad

NASA moved the Artemis II stack—the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket with the Orion crewed spacecraft—from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rollout on Jan. 17, 2026 sets the stage for a February mission to orbit the Moon with four astronauts, including a fueling test (wet dress rehearsal) planned for Feb. 2 and a launch window between Feb. 6–10. If February proves tight, NASA has backup opportunities in March or April, making Artemis II NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years a pivotal milestone.

Artemis II Rolls to Pad for Rollout, With Media Briefings Set
science1 month ago

Artemis II Rolls to Pad for Rollout, With Media Briefings Set

NASA’s Artemis II stack is moving from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center for rollout, with a series of media events on Jan. 16–17 and live streams. The mission will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard Orion atop the SLS; the 11-million-pound stack will traverse about a mile per hour over up to 12 hours. Final launch timing remains subject to readiness and weather, with the earliest window as soon as Feb. 6 and a possible rollback if needed. NASA will post updates on its Artemis blog.

NASA prepares Artemis II lunar mission for 2026 launch
space-exploration4 months ago

NASA prepares Artemis II lunar mission for 2026 launch

NASA's Artemis II mission aims to orbit the moon with a crewed spacecraft in 2026, marking the first human lunar orbit since 1972, as a crucial step towards returning humans to the lunar surface by 2027. The mission involves extensive testing and training to ensure safety and success, with astronauts practicing spacecraft operations and recovery procedures.

NASA prepares Orion for Artemis 2 moon mission launch
space-exploration4 months ago

NASA prepares Orion for Artemis 2 moon mission launch

The Orion spacecraft for NASA's Artemis 2 mission has been installed on the SLS rocket at Kennedy Space Center, with preparations continuing despite the U.S. government shutdown, thanks to White House approval for safety-critical activities. NASA is maintaining progress on the mission, including hardware assembly, while some public events and communications are affected by the shutdown.

NASA’s Moonship Nears Launch Readiness
space-exploration4 months ago

NASA’s Moonship Nears Launch Readiness

NASA's Orion spacecraft has arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, where it will be stacked on its rocket for the Artemis II Moon mission, potentially launching as early as February 2024 with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen onboard, marking the first crewed lunar trip since 1972.

space-exploration4 months ago

Orion spacecraft reaches VAB for Artemis 2 stacking

NASA's Orion spacecraft, named 'Integrity,' arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building for stacking atop the Space Launch System for the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send humans around the Moon no earlier than February 2026, marking the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17. The process includes extensive testing, crew preparations, and final launch preparations amid a government shutdown, with the launch window tentatively set for early 2026.

Artemis II Astronauts Prepare for Moon Mission with Orion Training and New Communications Tech
science6 months ago

Artemis II Astronauts Prepare for Moon Mission with Orion Training and New Communications Tech

NASA's Artemis 2 crew, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, completed their first joint entry into the Orion spacecraft during a suited crew test at Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant step towards their scheduled April 2026 launch around the moon for a 10-day mission, following the successful Artemis 1 mission.

"Artemis 2 Orion Spacecraft Begins Lunar Mission Testing"
space-exploration1 year ago

"Artemis 2 Orion Spacecraft Begins Lunar Mission Testing"

NASA's Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft, set to fly around the moon with four astronauts in 2025, is undergoing vital testing at Kennedy Space Center to ensure its readiness for the mission. The spacecraft is being tested for electromagnetic interference and compatibility in a vacuum chamber. The astronauts, including the first Black person to leave low Earth orbit and the first woman to go beyond it, will be aboard the spacecraft. The mission is part of the larger Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon and establish a settlement at the moon's south pole.

"Upgraded Altitude Chamber Tests Artemis II Spacecraft for Moon Mission"
space-exploration1 year ago

"Upgraded Altitude Chamber Tests Artemis II Spacecraft for Moon Mission"

NASA's Orion spacecraft, built with assistance from the European Space Agency, is set to carry four astronauts on the Artemis II mission to loop around the moon in September 2025, paving the way for a lunar landing in 2026. The spacecraft comprises four parts, including the crew module and service module, and will be launched using NASA's powerful Space Launch System rocket. Safety concerns, including unexpected damage to the heat shield during a previous test flight, have led to a delay in the mission. NASA's goal is to establish a permanent presence on and around the moon, with plans to explore the lunar south pole for potential water ice resources.

"Orion Test Drive on Artemis II: Paving the Way for Future NASA Missions"
space1 year ago

"Orion Test Drive on Artemis II: Paving the Way for Future NASA Missions"

NASA's Artemis II mission will feature the first test drive of the Orion spacecraft by astronauts, evaluating its manual handling qualities through a proximity operations demonstration using the detached upper stage of the SLS rocket. The crew will command Orion through a series of maneuvers, including a backflip and fine handling checks, to reduce risk for future missions involving rendezvous and docking with other spacecraft. The mission aims to test foundational human deep space exploration capabilities and pave the way for lunar surface missions.