"NASA debuts new Orion mission control room for Artemis 2 astronaut flight around the moon" by @Spacecom - #Orion capsule control room gets a modern redesign to go with the new generation of lunar crew expeditions. Upcoming #Artemis2 lunar fly-by mission will test Orion capsule with a crew of 3 #NASAπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ & 1 CSAπŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ astronauts. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-debuts-new-orion-mission-control-room-for-artemis-2-astronauts-journey-to-the-moon-photos #ArtemisπŸš€#MoonπŸŒ’
NASA debuts new Orion mission control room for Artemis 2 astronaut flight around the moon (photos)

Orion is so packed with technology that the old Mission Control room needed an annex.

Space
"2026 is the year humanity will finally go back to the moon" by @Spacecom - #Artemis2 launch currently planned no earlier than Feb 5. The crew of 4 astronauts (3 #NASAπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ & 1 #CSAπŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦) will fly farther from Earth than any humans have before. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/2026-is-the-year-humanity-will-finally-go-back-to-the-moon #ArtemisπŸš€ #Orion #MoonπŸŒ•
2026 is the year humanity will finally go back to the moon

It's happening. We are going.

Space
"Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight." by @arstechnica / @sciguyspace - New #NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman led a review of #Artemis2 #Orion capsule heat shield work since flaws were found after Artemis 1. Outside analysts and even reporters (including the article author) were in the meeting. Critics' questions answered satisfactorily. Isaacman approved going ahead with Artemis 2 flight. https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/nasa-chief-reviews-orion-heat-shield-expresses-full-confidence-in-it-for-artemis-ii/ #Artemis #space #Moon🌘
Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight.

That level of openness and transparency is exactly what should be expected of NASA."

Ars Technica
"NASA’s Moonbound Artemis II Rocket Reaches Launch Pad" by NASA Artemis - #SLS rocket with #Orion capsule has been moved to the launch pad, ready for #NASA #Artemis2 flight around the #MoonπŸŒ‘ and back with a crew of 4πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/17/nasas-moonbound-artemis-ii-rocket-reaches-launch-pad/ #Artemis #space
"Artemis II Crew Enters Quarantine Ahead of Journey Around Moon" by NASA Artemis - #NASA #Artemis2 crew entered 14-day quarantine set to support the earliest possible launch window. Though an official launch date for the 10-day flight around the #MoonπŸŒ’ is not yet set. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/23/artemis-ii-crew-enters-quarantine-ahead-of-journey-around-moon/ #Artemis #space
Artemis II Crew Enters Quarantine Ahead of Journey Around Moon - NASA

The next astronauts to fly around the Moon went into quarantine late Friday.

NASA
#Space #trivia: the population of the #MoonπŸŒ• has never been more than 2 humans at a time on the surface, or 3 if you count those in orbit. However, that will increase to 4 in orbit if #NASA #Artemis2 goes as planned.
"Countdown Begins for Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal" by #NASA #Artemis - Dress rehearsals in show business or #rocketry mean a practice run like the real thing. With rockets, "wet" means it includes filling liquid propellant tanks. If you saw "wet dress" and thought something else, you get a one-time pass because some rocketeers decades ago undoubtedly intended it that way to be funny. #SLS is a big rocket which takes many hours to fill. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/31/countdown-begins-for-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal/ #Artemis2 #MoonπŸŒ•οΈ #space
Countdown Begins for Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal - NASA

The countdown for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is underway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA
"Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Test Terminated at T-5:15" by #NASA #Artemis - #SLS rocket launch rehearsal did not complete due to a liquid hydrogen leak. Tanks are being drained to safe the vehicle. After troubleshooting or repairs, the wet dress rehearsal will have to be done again up to the point of aborting before ignition would happen in the countdown on an actual launch attempt. No announcement yet of effects on launch scheduling. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/03/artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal-test-terminated-at-t-515/ #Artemis2 #MoonπŸŒ– #space #rocketry
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Test Terminated at T-5:15 - NASA

The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown was terminated at the T-5:15 minute mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak at the interface of the tail service mast

NASA
"NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity" by #NASA #Artemis - While the #SLS rocket appears to have done fine in the fueling countdown rehearsal, liquid hydrogen leak in the ground support equipment will need repairs. They'll aim for launch windows in March. The astronauts are released from pre-launch quarantine, which they will re-enter 2 weeks before the new planned launch date. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/03/nasa-conducts-artemis-ii-fuel-test-eyes-march-for-launch-opportunity/#Artemis2 #MoonπŸŒ– #space #rocketry
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

NASA
"NASA completes a smooth rehearsal for historic Artemis 2 moon launch" by GeekWire / @alanboyle - After repairs, #NASA #Artemis2 launch rehearsal successfully tested all the systems, propellant loading and launch scrub procedures. New launch schedule TBA. https://www.geekwire.com/2026/nasa-smooth-rehearsal-artemis-2-moon-launch/ #MoonπŸŒ’ #space #rocketry
NASA completes a smooth rehearsal for historic Artemis 2 moon launch

Countdown goes all the way down to T-minus 29 seconds in preparation for NASA's first crewed trip to the moon since the Apollo era.

GeekWire
"Artemis II Crew Enters Quarantine Ahead of March Launch Opportunity" by #NASA #Artemis - #Artemis2 crew enters pre-launch quarantine beginning in Houston (where all NASA astronauts are based) and then travel on a NASA jet to the Florida launch site 5 days before launch. Starting quarantine now holds open the option for a March 6 launch window. Other work needs to be completed at the pad, reviewing test data and an in-depth Launch Readiness Review. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/20/artemis-ii-crew-enters-quarantine-ahead-of-march-launch-opportunity/ #MoonπŸŒ’ #space #rocketry
Artemis II Crew Enters Quarantine Ahead of March Launch Opportunity - NASA

NASA is targeting no earlier than Friday, March 6, for the launch of Artemis II, pending completion of required work at the launch pad, analysis of test data,

NASA
"NASA Troubleshooting Artemis II Rocket Upper Stage Issue, Preparing to Roll Back" by #NASA #Artemis - A blockage has been detected in plumbing for helium pressurant in #SLS upper stage. Rolling back the SLS rocket stack to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) will prevent launching in 2 weeks. Expect the astronauts to be released from pre-launch quarantine. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/21/nasa-troubleshooting-artemis-ii-rocket-upper-stage-issue-preparing-to-roll-back/ #MoonπŸŒ’ #space #rocketry
"NASA Artemis II Rocket Returns for Repairs" by #NASA #Artemis - The #SLS rocket for #Artemis2 was safely rolled back from Pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), hangar for the big rockets. Up next: troubleshooting the helium pressurant plumbing. While it's there, all the batteries will be swapped out to have maximum capacity for flight. (Constantly topping off batteries slowly erodes full charge capacity similar to your phone.) https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/25/nasa-artemis-ii-rocket-returns-for-repairs/ #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ” #space #rocketry
"NASA Finalizes Artemis II Rollout, Crew Begins Quarantine" by #NASA #Artemis - In support of the currently-scheduled #Artemis2 launch in 2 weeks on Wed April 1 (no fooling! πŸƒ), #SLS/#Orion πŸš€ rollout to the pad is scheduled to begin Thu March 19 at 8pm EDT. Also, the 4 astronauts πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ entered pre-launch quarantine in Houston, with travel in quarantine to the launch site 5 days before. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/03/18/nasa-finalizes-artemis-ii-rollout-crew-begins-quarantine/ #MoonπŸŒ• #space #rocketry
"Weather for NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch 80% Favorable" by #NASA #Artemis - Pre-launch countdown (checklist) for #Artemis2 begins 4:34pm EDT Monday (today) for launch Wednesday. https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/03/30/weather-for-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-launch-80-favorable/ #SLS #Orion #MoonπŸŒ•οΈ #space #rocketry
Weather for NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch 80% Favorable - NASA

Ahead of call to stations at 4:34 p.m. EDT on Monday, and the countdown clock beginning at 4:44 p.m., engineers continue preparations toward the launch of the

NASA

For anyone new to rocket launches, taking an interest because of #NASA #Artemis2 crewedπŸ§‘β€πŸš€ launch to the #Moon🌝...

Try as best you can to set expectations that rocketπŸš€ launches can be delayed. Weather, mechanical & electronics can cause delays or completely scrub (postpone) a launch. Launch procedures are for safety, not for spectators. When it flies, we want the mission achieved safely. If you hadn't thought of it, any delay becomes a huge disappointment. Patience. #SLS #Orion #space #rocketry

You can watch the #NASA #Artemis2πŸ§‘β€πŸš€ launch at https://plus.nasa.gov/ - that's the source everyone else gets it from when they tell you to watch the launch on their site (with their ads added, and retransmission delays). #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space #rocketry
NASA+

NASA+
"Watch NASA count down to the launch of humanity’s first moon voyage in nearly 54 years" by GeekWire / @AlanBoyle - #NASA #Artemis2 launch window opens 6:24pm Eastern/3:24pm Pacific. The 2-hour launch window allows some room for delays due to weather or technical issues. Weather is currently 80% chance of go (20% chance of scrub). https://www.geekwire.com/2026/nasa-countdown-artemis-moon/ #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space #rocketry
β€˜Let’s go!’ NASA launches humanity’s first moon voyage in nearly 54 years

The Artemis 2 mission is due to send astronauts on a test mission to the moon and back during the "opening act" of a new age of discovery.

GeekWire
"What do scientists hope to learn from NASA's historic Artemis 2 moon flyby?" by @Spacecom - #Science objectives of #NASA #Artemis2 include space medicine, radiation sensors and observations of the far side of the Moon which were not in daylight during any Apollo missions. But the big thing is testing the spacecraft on its first flight with a crew, so that's not all new on Moon landing missions. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/what-do-scientists-hope-to-learn-from-nasas-historic-artemis-2-moon-flyby #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space #rocketry
What do scientists hope to learn from NASA's historic Artemis 2 moon flyby?

From immune system shifts to organ-on-a-chip experiments, Artemis 2 is as much a human health mission as it is a test flight around the moon.

Space
Now under 2 hours to opening of the launch window for #NASA #Artemis2. Here's what to expect when the rocket launches, whether today or another upcoming launch window. #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
#NASA #Artemis2 coverage says there are no issues with the rocket. But the launch range (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station) is currently "no go" while working a technical issue related to the flight termination system. (Every big rocket has a system to destruct the rocket if it goes off course toward a populated area.) It is not yet known if this can or will be resolved before the launch window closes. If it is, everything else is still go. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
The "Range" (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station) has changed back to "go" for flight. They solved the issue with checking the flight termination system is operable for flight. Rocket remains "go". Weather remains 80% go with updates expected. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T minus 1 hour. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Latest updates from NASA launch coverage: Weather upgraded from 80% to 90% go. But a battery temperature on the Launch Abort System (safety system) is being watched because it would become out of tolerance if not resolved by T-6 minutes. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Latest update: battery issue resolved on Launch Abort System. All systems "go" for launch. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Countdown holding at T-10 minutes for various readings that need another look. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Pre-launch poll of directors is "go", T-10 minutes and counting: ground launch system computer takes over for terminal count. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T-1 minute to launch. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Liftoff to the Moon! #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T+01:10 Now beyond the point of maximum dynamic pressure "Max Q". #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T+02:08 Solid Rocket Booster separation. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T+03:18 Launch abort system jettison. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Climbing to orbit. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T+8 minutes several sequential events: SLS core stage main engine cutoff and stage separation. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
Now in Earth orbit, coasting up to higher altitude before next rocket burns which will raise perigee (low point of the orbit) and then apogee (high point of the orbit). Next: solar panels will deploy at T+20. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
The fast-paced part of the flight is done and appeared nominal (good). After solar panel deployment and two rocket burns to stabilize in high Earth orbit, they'll assess the readiness of the spacecraft to proceed to the Moon. Watch for the "translunar injection burn" TLI (rocket firing) after T plus one day 1 hour for leaving Earth orbit on a trajectory to circle the Moon. #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
T+20:00 Orion solar arrays deployed. This was a necessary test that had to pass in order to continue the mission. (animation erroneously depicts rocket engine firing - it is in coast) #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
"NASA launches 4 astronauts to the moon on historic Artemis 2 voyage, a lunar leap for the 21st century" by @Spacecom - For the first time in over 50 years, astronauts launch on the way to the Moon. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-launches-4-astronauts-to-the-moon-on-historic-artemis-2-voyage-a-lunar-leap-for-the-21st-century #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
NASA launches 4 astronauts to the moon on historic Artemis 2 voyage, a lunar leap for the 21st century

For the first time in more than 50 years, astronauts are on their way to the moon.

Space
T+49 minutes: perigee raise maneuver (1381Γ—115 statute miles) - entry to safe orbit. NASA is concluding the NASA+ stream coverage but continues on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR2KK8TEs #NASA #Artemis2 #Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
A little orbital dynamics for those interested in the #NASA #Artemis2 mission:
To raise the perigee (low point) of an orbit, the rockets have to be fired at apogee (high point). That part is done.
Conversely, to raise the apogee (high point), rockets are fired at perigee (low point). That's coming up.
#Artemis #MoonπŸŒ•οΈοΈοΈοΈ #SLSπŸš€ #Orion #space
@AstroHawk Thank You! If you feel like answering, is the inverse necessary due to position of Orion after first maneuver, or am I uninformed of some other aspect? *knows nothing of anything 😬
@VenusianMars No, every orbital launch needs to re-light the engines for an orbit-raising maneuver at apogee. That's because the trajectory exiting the atmosphere is on an elliptical course that would go through the launch site. Since they don't want to re-enter the atmosphere, they raise the low end of the orbit with a burn at the high end. That's just when orbital mechanics dictates those burns must be done for the speeds to add up in the right directions.
@AstroHawk Right, but why is it the opposite and not just "upping" into the next layer of orbit by hitting said mark at same time/interval each "uppance"?
@VenusianMars Now I think you're messing with me. Homework assigned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_maneuver
Orbital maneuver - Wikipedia

@AstroHawk 😳 I am not messing with you, sorry you think so. Thanks for responding.
@VenusianMars OK, I accept that. Thanks for clarifying. Online it can be hard to tell sometimes.