Overview
- On Dec. 20 at Kennedy Space Center, teams executed the final 5.5 hours of launch-day steps and halted the simulated countdown about 30 seconds before liftoff.
- Crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen suited up, reached the mobile launcher in the Vehicle Assembly Building, boarded Orion “Integrity,” and completed suit leak and communications checks.
- NASA confirmed this was the first full end-to-end rehearsal with the crew and Orion in the launch configuration.
- Upcoming milestones include flight-termination-system checks, the rollout to Launch Complex 39B, a wet dress rehearsal, and additional pad testing focused on emergency operations.
- NASA continues to target a launch opportunity early next year for the lunar flyby mission, contingent on successful completion of remaining ground tests.