8m ago
NASA to hold news conference at 8 p.m. EDT
NASA has moved up its post-launch news conference by one hour. It is now scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.
43m ago
Solar array wings deployed
The Orion’s four solar array wings have been deployed.
“Flight controllers in Houston confirmed that all four wings unfolded as planned, locking into place and beginning to draw power,” NASA said. When fully deployed, the solar arrays give Orion a wingspan of about 63 feet, NASA said.
The solar array wings will provide continuous electrical power for the craft’s life‑support systems, avionics, communications and onboard operations, according to NASA.
Illustration shows the features of the Orion crew capsule, which will carry the Artemis II astronauts around the moon and back.
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56m ago
Core stage separates
The core stage has successfully separated from the Orion spacecraft, NASA said.
“This marks the end of the first major propulsion phase of the Artemis II mission and the transition to upper‑stage operations,” NASA said.
6:42 PM
Boosters, adapter jettison fairings separate
The twin solid rocket boosters and the adapter jettison fairings have separated from the spacecraft, as planned, NASA said.
6:36 PM
Artemis II lifts off
Artemis II lifted off at 6:35 p.m. EDT.
6:31 PM
Artemis II a “go” for launch
Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson has conducted the final “go/no-go” poll and was given a unanimous “go,” NASA said.
6:14 PM
Battery issue will not affect launch, NASA says
A higher-than-expected temperature reading from a sensor on the launch abort system’s attitude control motor controller battery is “believed to be an instrumentation issue and will not affect today’s launch,” NASA said.
The closeout crew has finished its work and left Pad 39B ahead of launch.
With about 30 minutes to go before the launch window opened, NASA said the weather was 90% go for launch.
5:48 PM
NASA troubleshooting new issue with launch abort system battery temperature
NASA commentator Derrol Nail said the launch team is troubleshooting a new issue involving a temperature reading coming from one of two batteries on Orion’s Launch Abort System. It’s currently out of range, and may be a sensor issue. The team is investigating.
Nail said the issue is not a constraint for launch right now, but it would be a constraint is the problem persists when the temperature is checked again inside terminal count.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast has improved — now 90% go.
5:33 PM
Launch abort system hatch closed
Technicians have finished closing the launch abort system hatch, NASA said, describing it as “an essential step that ensures the Orion spacecraft is fully sealed and ready for flight.”
The hatch is an added barrier to protect the astronauts during flight and “enable a rapid escape in the event of an emergency.”
NASA said the hatch closure is one of the “last major milestones before fueling and launch.”