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Artemis II Crew Begins Orion Rehearsals Ahead of 2026 Lunar Flyby

Training inside Orion forms the latest preparatory step ahead of the planned April 2026 lunar flyby.

Overview

  • The four astronauts donned launch and entry suits for their first in-orbit suit rehearsals inside the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center.
  • Mission specialist Christina Koch indicated that successful milestone completions could shift the launch from April to as early as February.
  • Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy is set to meet the Artemis II crew this week as agency leaders underscore commitment to the mission.
  • Over 4,000 NASA employees have departed since January, prompting mission management to assess workforce capacities during final preparations.
  • Artemis II will carry the crew on a 10-day, figure-eight trajectory around the moon to validate the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft’s deep-space systems.