NASA’s next Moonship reaches last stop before launch pad

NASA's Orion spacecraft, poised to carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, has successfully arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This significant milestone took place late Thursday night, marking the final preparations before it is integrated with its launch rocket for the anticipated mission early next year. The transfer covered a distance of about six miles (10 kilometers) within the Florida spaceport, and NASA, alongside its contractors, is making steady progress towards the Artemis II mission. This initiative continues to receive support from the White House, which granted an exception to proceed despite the ongoing government shutdown that commenced on October 1. With these efforts, Artemis II could potentially launch as early as February 5, 2024. The crew for this historic flight includes astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, who will be the first humans to fly aboard the Orion spacecraft, a project that has been under development for almost twenty years. Their 10-day mission will mark the first human travel to the Moon's vicinity since 1972, making it a landmark event in space exploration. The Orion spacecraft, developed by Lockheed Martin, has undergone several critical preparations at Kennedy since departing its manufacturing facility in May. Initially, it was transferred to a fueling facility where technicians loaded hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants, essential for the spacecraft's main engine and maneuvering thrusters. Additionally, high-pressure helium and ammonia coolant were added to the propulsion and thermal control systems. Next, the Launch Abort System was fitted to the Orion spacecraft in a nearby building. This safety system is designed to detach the capsule from its rocket in the event of a launch emergency. Standing approximately 67 feet (20 meters) tall with its service module, crew module, and abort tower combined, Orion is a remarkable feat of engineering. In the final phase of its preparation, teams at Kennedy installed four ogive panels that will act as an aerodynamic shield for the crew capsule during the initial moments of launch. The spacecraft will soon be lifted by cranes, weighing in at 78,000 pounds (35 metric tons), and positioned atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building's northeast high bay. This pivotal step brings humanity closer to venturing beyond Earth’s orbit once again.