Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is seen inside high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building as teams await the arrival of Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; to board their Orion spacecraft atop the rocket as part of the Artemis II countdown demonstration test, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For this operation, the Artemis II crew and launch teams are simulating the launch day timeline including suit-up, walkout, and spacecraft ingress and egress. Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars, for the benefit of all. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)