Nov 30, 2025 ✪ Members first on November 29, 2025During the Thanksgiving holiday week here in the U.S., NASA published more footage of Artemis II launch preparations and Artemis III production activities during the six-week long government shutdown. While we're catching up on that, there are big questions about the plans for 2026 and the rest of the decade. For 2026, we're wondering how much schedule margin NASA Exploration Ground Systems has for the Artemis II February launch opportunity. For the rest of the decade, with the Artemis III and lunar landing plans confused by the latest delays, will there be enough SLS and Orion hardware for NASA to fly Artemis III and IV, or will the first SLS Block 1B have to wait until the 2030s have started?Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Links to social media posts:https://x.com/audrey_decker9/status/1989352112728510935https://x.com/starshipgazer/status/1991845404212666603https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1992287913036648577https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1993832437898522776https://x.com/AirbusSpace/status/1993699372123467819Join the channel for additional members-only content: / @philipsloss Or, consider buying me a coffee to support my work and the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss00:00 Intro01:06 Artemis II Watch: How much schedule margin is left for February?06:13 Artemis III Watch: Boeing continues assembling the third SLS Core Stage in New Orleans11:49 Artemis IV SLS Core Stage welding continues, many jobs to complete14:25 Artemis IV Orion and SLS hardware could be a key factor in how many Artemis missions fly this decade16:28 SpaceX looks to stack next Starship booster after last week's accident destroyed the last one17:16 ESM-4 on its way from Bremen to KSC18:28 Thanks for watching!
2025 is coming to a close with Jared Isaacman nearing confirmation again to be the next NASA Administrator and with Exploration Ground Systems continuing to work towards hitting a rollout window for Artemis II. With time limits on celestial mechanics and range safety hardware validation, EGS needs to hit a mid-January rollout window a couple of weeks ahead of the February lunar launch period.In this video, I'll look at the anti-climactic nomination hearing for Mr. Isaacman, the latest looks at Artemis II and SLS hardware production, and what NASA's move towards renting commercial mission services means for Artemis III in particular and Artemis for the rest of the decade in general.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Links to social media posts:https://x.com/audrey_decker9/status/1989352112728510935https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1992287913036648577https://x.com/JeffBezos/status/1991987664766328990https://x.com/tobyliiiiiiiiii/status/1991989480069505225https://bsky.app/profile/jthutt.bsky.social/post/3m74isttjws2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/spacepolicyonline.bsky.social/post/3m6xonrkstd2qLinks to stories referenced:https://www.planetary.org/articles/nasa-2026-budget-proposal-in-chartshttps://nasawatch.com/personnel-news/nasa-releases-workforce-resignation-numbers/https://nasawatch.com/shutdown/shutdown-update-2/https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/10/28/blue-origin-details-lunar-exploration-progress-amid-artemis-3-contract-shakeup/https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/12/04/orion-hatch-blemish-delays-launch-day-rehearsal-for-artemis-2-astronauts/Join the channel for additional members-only content: / @philipsloss Or, consider buying me a coffee to support my work and the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss00:00 Intro01:49 Artemis II Watch: Six weeks to rollout?07:26 America 250 logo added to the Artemis II SLS Boosters08:53 Anti-climactic vibe to second nomination hearing for Jared Isaacman17:37 Artemis III Watch: What does 2026 hold for the Artemis super heavy-lift rockets?24:17 SLS Tank Watching during the government shutdown31:52 Thanks for watching!
Dec 14, 2025NASA Exploration Ground Systems has maybe five weeks left to get the Artemis II vehicle ready to rollout for a February launch to the Moon, but we haven't gotten much of an update since before Thanksgiving. With the holiday fortnight right around the corner, we may have to wait until after New Year's to find out whether February is still go or not.While we continue to wait to hear about the status and the schedule, I'll run through the calendar again as the deadline for February gets closer and closer.One thing that might not wait much longer is Senate confirmation of Jared Isaacman to be the next NASA Administrator, in this video I'll run through the steps taken in the Senate during the week for that and more SLS tank watching imagery that NASA public affairs released filling in the timeline of activities during the six-week long government shutdown.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Links to social media posts:https://bsky.app/profile/micahmaidenberg.bsky.social/post/3lllvw2uccs24https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRVaQkZEsqC/Links to stories referenced:https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/12/how-did-the-ceo-of-an-online-payments-firm-become-the-nominee-to-lead-nasa/https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/12/04/orion-hatch-blemish-delays-launch-day-rehearsal-for-artemis-2-astronauts/00:00 Intro01:19 Artemis II watch04:51 More SLS tank watching, turns out the engine section simulator used to be an engine section12:38 Jared Isaacman is one step away from being NASA Administrator again18:29 Thanks for watching!
Dec 21, 2025NASA and Artemis are going to be busy through the holidays, with Exploration Ground Systems preparing to conduct the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT) for Artemis II this weekend and new NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman getting up to speed.Coincident with Mr. Isaacman taking office this week, a Presidential executive order once again shook up the Artemis III snow globe. The official date hasn't changed from mid-2027, but the hardware vendors had already told NASA that they wouldn't be ready until late 2028. Regardless, NASA is expected to land by 2028, in other words, 2027 or bust. They have 90 days to come up with a plan to land the next astronauts on the Moon and return them safely to Earth no later than two years from now.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Links to social media posts:https://x.com/blueorigin/status/2000662589320188182https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/2001393701587685852https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2001768022713962989Links to stories referenced:https://onfirstup.com/boeing/BNN/articles/first-moon-rocket-tank-connector-build-using-new-approach?bypass_deeplink=trueJoin the channel for additional members-only content: / @philipsloss Or, consider buying me a coffee to support my work and the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss00:00 Intro02:02 Artemis II Watch: Finishing preps for Count-Down Demonstration Test08:48 Jared Isaacman confirmed, sworn in as new NASA Administrator11:53 Presidential executive order again makes Artemis III 2027 or bust15:14 Other news and notes, Blue Origin BE-7 engine for first Mark 1 lander ready for installation16:19 Orion ESM-4 arrives in Florida17:04 Boeing updates EUS structural test article assembly status, mid-body completed18:50 L3Harris electric propulsion thrusters ready for installation in Gateway PPE20:40 Thanks for watching!
Dec 28, 2025 ✪ Members first on December 27, 2025NASA Artemis II, III, IV Quarterly Update #8, 2025 Fourth QuarterIn this video, I'll go through what we know about the state of the next few Artemis missions, and all the unanswered questions about what happens after Artemis II. NASA's plans and schedule after the initial Artemis lunar demonstrations remain cloudy a decade after starting out that way. Today, besides the clarity of a lunar landing goal for the U.S., the who, what, and when still aren't clear.On the possible eve of the long-awaited Artemis II crewed demonstration test flight, NASA hasn't named a crew, doesn't have a schedule, and has to pick a lunar lander again for Artemis III. Hardware for Artemis III and IV is well into assembly and test, but there's less and less information to try to decipher when it will be ready and how the space agency will use it.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Space Coast Live (http://nsf.live/spacecoast) courtesy of NSF/NASASpaceflight, used with permission. Links to social media posts:https://x.com/audrey_decker9/status/1989352112728510935https://x.com/starshipgazer/status/1991845404212666603https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1992287913036648577https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2001768022713962989https://www.instagram.com/astro_reid/reel/DSdhrIoDldE/https://x.com/astro_reid/status/2002169436787081279https://x.com/NASA/status/2002496310944141325https://x.com/NASA/status/2002497506715054339https://www.instagram.com/astro_reid/reel/DSnufE_DsUn/ https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2003871611733295480Links to stories referenced:https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/10/28/blue-origin-details-lunar-exploration-progress-amid-artemis-3-contract-shakeup/Join the channel for additional members-only content: / @philipsloss Or, consider buying me a coffee to support my work and the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss00:00 Intro01:52 Overview of the quarter and the current situation07:33 Artemis II status, countdown test completed on December 20 16:41 Artemis III status26:21 Artemis IV status35:57 Thanks for watching!
Scheduled for Jan 4, 2026I'll take your questions about Artemis as 2026 begins, with Artemis II possibly a month away, and uncertainty high about the plans and schedule for everything after that.NASA's Exploration programs, usually referred to by their branded name, Artemis, are: Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility (EHP), Gateway, Human Landing System (mostly Starship right now), Orion, and Space Launch System (SLS).Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.
Jan 4, 2026I'll take your questions about Artemis as 2026 begins, with Artemis II possibly a month away, and uncertainty high about the plans and schedule for everything after that.NASA's Exploration programs, usually referred to by their branded name, Artemis, are: Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility (EHP), Gateway, Human Landing System (mostly Starship right now), Orion, and Space Launch System (SLS).Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.
Jan 11, 2026 ✪ Members first on January 10, 2026The first we heard from NASA about Artemis II this week was after close of business on Friday night, when they provided a status update and publicly released a launch availability calendar. I'll go through initial takeaways from those releases and also update the location of the NASA budget for current fiscal year in this video.The update includes the test plan for the Wet Dress Rehearsal tanking test before the launch and the calendar includes the opening and duration of every launch opportunity for Artemis II in February, March, and April.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.
NASA finally released updates on final preparations for Artemis II and upcoming launch windows late Friday night, January 9th. If you have any questions about Artemis II and/or the latest updates, I'll take questions on Sunday.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.
Started streaming 2 hours agoWith the Artemis II vehicle (very nearly) at the pad, and a few briefings from NASA officials later, I'll take questions on Sunday about Artemis II specifically and Artemis generally.
Jan 21, 2026Last Friday I spoke with the lead of the closeout crew, Taylor Hose, who leads the team that will assist the four Artemis II astronauts get onboard Orion in the White Room at the pad for their upcoming launch. The closeout crew will then close the hatches, finish the last checks,We went through who is on the team, what they're doing on launch day, and the extra run-through they will do during the upcoming Wet Dress Rehearsal.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.Links to stories referenced:https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/kennedy/get-in-were-going-to-the-moon-meet-nasas-artemis-closeout-crew/00:00 Intro00:45 A brief overview of the closeout crew and what they do on launch day02:54 Interview with Taylor Hose, the closeout crew lead, starting with who is on the team05:02 They will run through the timeline during the upcoming Wet Dress Rehearsal06:48 They're busy helping pack Orion for the trip to the Moon08:22 Crew quarantine is coming up and the closeout crew will support that09:29 Going through their launch day timeline, closing out Orion and crew for terminal count and launch17:38 End of mission activities, after the crew and spacecraft return18:43 A little bit about how Taylor became the closeout crew lead and what he's been doing at KSC22:38 Thanks for watching!
