The hatch is now closed. The Artemis II astronauts are now strapped into their seats and ready f...

💡Fun Facts

• 1Artemis II will send four astronauts—the first crew beyond low Earth orbit since 1972—on a 10-day trip around the Moon without landing.
• 2The Orion capsule has two hatches: one for space protection and a launch abort system hatch for emergencies, both openable from inside.
• 3Before boarding, astronauts signed their names in the 'White Room' near the spacecraft entrance, a tradition for good luck.
• 4The closeout crew, the last people the astronauts see, performs leak checks and secures helmets, gloves, and seatbelts in about 40 minutes.
• 5A 1967 Apollo 1 fire tragedy, where the hatch could only open from outside, led to modern hatch designs emphasizing crew safety.