Artemis II launch live updates as NASA moon mission counts down to historic flight

The Artemis II crew has arrived at launch pad 39B.

From there, one insertion technician will get out with the crew and escort them up to the launch tower.

The group will take two sets of elevators, one from the surface of the launch pad to the mobile launch tower’s “zero deck,” and then a second from “zero deck” to the 274-foot crew access level.

The crew will be carrying green bags containing their suit helmets, gloves, communication caps and personal items like reading glasses.

From the last elevator, the crew will walk around the 274-foot platform and across the 60-foot-long crew access arm leading to their moonship. At the end of the arm is the “white room,” a small, environmentally controlled space used for final preparations, such as donning helmets and gloves. The astronauts will begin a roughly 40-minute process of getting strapped into their seats.

Artemis II originally planned to take off in early February, but the flight was delayed repeatedly.

The first setback came in the form of hydrogen fuel leaks during a dress-rehearsal countdown. Then problems arose with the upper stage propellant pressurization system. 

NASA says both issues have been resolved, finally clearing the way for launch. 

More than 48 hours before liftoff, the official countdown clocks began ticking at 4:44 p.m. EDT Monday afternoon.

CBS News 24/7 will have live streaming coverage starting at 4 p.m.

Full coverage: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/nasa-artemis-ii-launch/

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