HOUSTON, Tex. — This period, called the health stabilization program, typically starts about 14 days before launch.
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During quarantine, the crew can continue regular contact with friends, family, and colleagues who are able to observe quarantine guidelines, and will avoid public places, wear masks, and maintain distance from others they come into contact with as they continue their final training activities.
Beginning quarantine now helps preserve flexibility as teams work toward potential opportunities in the upcoming February, launch period.
The crew will begin quarantine in Houston, and if testing continues to go well and activities progress toward a possible launch next month. The Artemis crew will fly to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, about six days ahead of launch.
Following, the Artemis II crew will live in the astronaut crew quarters inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations, & Checkout Building, before launch day.
Meanwhile, teams at Kennedy continue to prepare the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket & Orion spacecraft, along with associated ground systems, ahead of launch.
Teams have since completed all checkouts of mechanical power systems, cryogenic propellant lines, & engines, at Launch Pad 39B.
On the other side of the country, NASA and Department of War teams will work together to safely retrieve the crew & spacecraft, following their return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. In preparation they’re performing a final simulation of their activities, called a just-in-time training, at sea.
Those teams will begin making their way to Orion’s splashdown location in the days after launch.
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