Artemis II astronauts practise launch countdown in Florida
Canadian Space Agency astronaut waits all suited up in crew quarters before a simulation of launch day. (Credit: NASA/Glenn Benson)
This week, only about two months before the first launch opportunity, the Artemis II crew and teams from NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program took part in a Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT) at Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, a full dress rehearsal of the actual launch countdown.
The CDDT was a crucial milestone in the preparation for missions that date back to the Apollo program. The primary goal is to ensure that all systems, ground support equipment, and personnel are ready for launch. It helps identify and resolve technical challenges and acquire valuable lessons before the actual launch day.
The crew awoke at their crew quarters, then put on the Orion crew survival system spacesuits they will wear on launch day. In a previous simulation, they were brought to Launch Pad 39B – the spot where their SLS rocket will launch from – to practise the full launch sequence without the rocket at the pad. This time they were brought to the Vehicle Assembly Building where the SLS was assembled and now stands ahead of its rollout while engineers are conducting final preparations on the spacecraft, rocket, and ground systems. The rocket was not fuelled, but the crew went in and out of the Orion spacecraft.
More tests and simulations are planned until the launch, including a "wet test," meaning that the rocket will be fully fuelled with propellants, and the countdown will proceed up to a point just before first-stage engine ignition, without the crew on board.