As the Artemis II countdown moves steadily toward liftoff no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, April 1, launch teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue completing a sequence of highly choreographed steps to ready the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the crew’s journey around the Moon.
The weather forecast for launch day shows an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions with primary concerns being cumulus clouds, ground winds, and solar weather. NASA and weather officers with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 will continue to monitor the weather leading up to liftoff.
Engineers began the day by finishing critical health checks on the rocket’s four RS‑25 engines, confirming that sensors, connections, and diagnostics were all performing as expected. Their readiness marks an important milestone as cryogenic operations approach.
Meanwhile, the SLS upper stage – the interim cryogenic propulsion stage – having completed its earlier power‑up and verification activities, was powered down into a safe, stable configuration.
Teams also brought the Orion spacecraft’s flight batteries to full charge, ensuring dependable power for avionics, life support, and communications throughout launch and early flight. Soon after, engineers began charging the rocket’s core stage flight batteries, which is another essential step to support sensors and control systems during launch and ascent.
As launch approaches, preparations increasingly focus on operations to support t …