NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time to Launch Complex 39B, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASA’s Artemis I flight test, the fully stacked and integrated SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to verify systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
NASA’s moon rocket is finally hitting the road.
The agency announced that the fully stacked Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will begin their four-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B no earlier than Saturday, January 17, with first motion expected around 7 a.m. ET. The journey aboard Crawler-Transporter 2 will take up to 12 hours.
Artemis II Rollout Details
Artemis II Rollout: VAB to LC-39B
Distance
Approximately 4 miles (6.4 km)
Speed
0.82–1 mph (1.3–1.6 km/h) loaded
Total Time
10–12 hours, depending on conditions and stops
Method
Crawler-Transporter 2 (CT-2), a 6.6-million-pound vehicle
Purpose
Transport the fully assembled rocket from the VAB to Launch Pad 39B for wet dress rehearsal and final launch preparations
Teams have been working around the clock to close out remaining tasks ahead of rollout, though the date could shift if additional time is needed for technical preparations or weather.
The rollout marks the beginning of final integration and testing for what will be the first crewed mission beyond Earth orbit in more than 50 years. Once at the pad, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will conduct a final walkdown before launch preparations continue.
A wet dress rehearsal is planned for late January, during which teams will load more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants and run through countdown procedures. The earliest launch window opens February 6, with additional opportunities on February 7, 8, 10, and 11.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting Wednesday, January 14, at 5:00 PM EST for the undocking of Dragon Endeavour from the International Space Station, beginning the first medical evacuation in the orbiting laboratory’s 25-year history. If weather and all other factors are acceptable, the four-person Crew-11 team is expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego, California, at approximately 3:40 AM ET on Thursday, January 15.
The roughly 11-hour journey from undocking to splashdown follows standard Crew Dragon procedures. Mission managers continue monitoring weather and sea states in the Pacific Ocean recovery zone, and the precise splashdown location will be confirmed closer to undocking.
Crew 11 Is A Controlled Evacuation, Not An Emergency Egress
NASA officials have repeatedly emphasized this is a “controlled medical evacuation” rather than an emergency return. In true emergencies, Dragon can bring crew home within hours, but the agency opted for standard departure procedures to minimize risk.
“Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority,” NASA stated. “These are the situations NASA and our partners train for and prepare to execute safely.”
The affected crew member remains stable. NASA has declined to identify which of the four astronauts is experiencing the medical concern, citing privacy policies. The issue first came to light on January 7 when JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui requested a private medical conference with flight surgeons.
Crew 11 Astronaut Mike Finke Provides An Update
As many of you have heard, our crew will be coming home just a few weeks earlier than planned due to an unexpected medical issue. First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for. This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It’s the right call, even if it’s a bit bittersweet.
This photo was taken as we prepared our space suits for return—a normal, methodical step in getting ready to come home, and a reminder that this decision was made calmly and carefully, with people at the center.
What stands out most to me is how clearly NASA cares about its people. Flight surgeons, engineers, managers, and support teams came together quickly and professionally to chart the best path forward. The ground teams—across mission control centers and partner organizations around the world—have been extraordinary.
We’re proud of the joint work we’ve done and the camaraderie we’ve shared, including some great songs and more than a few dad jokes. It has been a privilege to serve aboard the International Space Station—an extraordinary orbiting laboratory and a symbol of what nations can achieve together. Living and working here with our international partners has been both humbling and deeply rewarding.
This moment also highlights the strength of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and our partnership with SpaceX. Dragon provides a safe, reliable, and flexible capability to bring us home on short notice when it’s the right thing to do.
We’re leaving the ISS in great hands. The three crewmates who arrived in November will continue the mission, and they’ll be joined by Crew-12 in just a few weeks. Explore 74!
We’re grateful for the teamwork, proud of the mission, and looking forward to coming home soon—back to our loved ones and to resolving any medical questions with the best care available.
— Ad Astra per Aspera! NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke, January 11, 2026
Interestingly, Mike Finke gave the update outside of NASA’s official media channels, instead, he posted it to his LinkedIn page. That’s not to say that NASA did not know and approve of what Finke had to say, just that he made it a personal statement from a personal channel.
Crew Preparations Underway
The Crew-11 astronauts have spent recent days preparing for departure. A key step involves fit-checking their Dragon pressure suits—necessary because the spine lengthens and body fluids shift toward the head in microgravity, affecting torso and limb dimensions. The crew also tested suit audio and video communication systems.
Commander Zena Cardman drained water from two NASA spacesuits aboard the station—the same suits that would have been used for the January 8 spacewalk that was cancelled when the medical situation arose. Yui and Platonov continued research activities, with Platonov studying blood vessel function in microgravity and methods for preventing blood clots during spaceflight.
NASA diagram of the current docking location for the spacecraft at ISS credit: NASA
Station Crew After Departure
When Endeavour undocks, the International Space Station will be left with only three crew members—the smallest complement in years:
Chris Williams (NASA)
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (Roscosmos)
Sergei Mikaev (Roscosmos)
The trio arrived November 27, 2025, aboard Soyuz MS-28 and will remain aboard until July 2026. Williams will serve as the sole American operator for NASA’s systems and science experiments until Crew-12 arrives.
Expedition 74 crew members (from left) NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev pose for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Credit: NASA/James Blair
NASA and Roscosmos intentionally place astronauts on different spacecraft precisely for situations like this. The U.S. and Russian segments of the station are interdependent, requiring at least one person from each country to keep operations running.
“This is one of the reasons why we fly mixed crews on Soyuz and US vehicles,” said NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya in a NASA press conference last Friday. “We want to make sure we have operators for both segments.”
Crew-12 Launch Under Evaluation
NASA is assessing whether to accelerate the Crew-12 launch, currently targeting no earlier than February 15. The Crew-12 team includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has indicated the agency is comfortable with the gap in crew size. The station has operated with skeleton crews before—as few as two people remained aboard following the Columbia tragedy in 2003.
Asked whether an accelerated Crew-12 launch could impact Artemis II preparations at Kennedy Space Center, Isaacman was direct: “These would be totally separate campaigns at this point.” NASA’s crewed lunar mission remains on track for its February launch window.
Historical Context
While unprecedented for the International Space Station, medical evacuations from orbit have occurred before. In November 1985, Soviet Salyut 7 commander Vladimir Vasyutin became seriously ill after two months in space and returned early with his crewmates.
Afterward, Cosmonaut Viktor Savinykh published a diary detailing the difficult situation. Like NASA today, Soviet officials declined to identify the specific medical problem for privacy reasons, though it is generally believed to have been a prostate infection.
The Crew-11 return demonstrates the value of having crew return vehicles permanently docked at the station. Dragon Endeavour has been attached to the Harmony module’s zenith port since August 2025, ready for exactly this contingency.
Looking Ahead
NASA coverage of undocking and splashdown will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. Following crew recovery, a media conference is scheduled for 5:45 AM EST on January 15.
The return will mark the end of Crew-11’s mission approximately three weeks ahead of schedule. Upon splashdown, the affected crew member will receive appropriate medical evaluation and care—the primary goal that prompted NASA’s decision to bring the team home early.
Canaveral National Seashore will implement temporary schedule changes at Playalinda Beach to support NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission, the National Park Service announced on January 9th.
Beginning Sunday, January 12th, the Playalinda District will operate on reduced hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., two hours shorter than the normal 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule. The modified hours will remain in effect through January 31st.
Playalinda Beach Closures – Artemis II
Playalinda Beach Schedule Changes
Canaveral National Seashore – Artemis II Launch Support
Dates
Hours
Status
January 12 – January 30, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Reduced Hours
January 31 – February 6, 2026*
—
Closed
Day after successful launch
6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Normal Hours Resume
*Closure continues until day of successful Artemis II launch
Starting January 31st, the entire Playalinda Beach District will close completely and remain closed through February 6th—or until the day of a successful Artemis II launch. The closure encompasses the period when NASA’s first launch window opens for the historic crewed lunar mission.
Normal operating hours will resume the day following a successful launch.
Visitors planning trips to the seashore during this period should check the National Park Service website or contact the park directly for the latest access information.
Day OR Night Launch, Most Of MINWR Won’t Be Open For Spectators For Liftoff
The redundantly named Playalinda Beach (playa – beach, linda – beautiful in Spanish) offers some of the closest public viewing locations for launches from Kennedy Space Center and the north end of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but that will definitely not the case for Artemis II’s launch.
A Falcon 9 lifts off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space. Photo: Charles Boyer
Not only will Playalinda be closed, but if Artemis I in 2022 serves as any guide, much of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will be in the official security zone and the public will have no access, with KSC Police turning away unauthorized cars at the entrance to the Refuge (near the end of the Max Brewer Bridge on Beach Road.) On the north side, on FL-3, the Haulover Bridge was as far south as people were allowed.
The 2022 Artemis I Launch Hazard Area Source: US Space Force
Artemis II in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Photo: NASA
NASA has published its launch window availability for Artemis II, the agency’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, with opportunities spanning February through April 2026. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are scheduled to roll out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B NET January 17th.
The four-mile journey aboard Crawler-Transporter 2 will take up to 12 hours before the integrated launch structure and rocket arrive at their final destination.
After Artemis II is rolled out to LC39B, engineers and technicians will start pad integration tasks, including connecting essential ground support equipment such as electrical lines, environmental control system ducts, and cryogenic propellant feeds. After those tasks are successfully completed, teams will then power up all integrated systems for the first time at the pad.
All windows are 120 minutes, except for March 11th, which offers a slightly shorter 115-minute window.
Lighting Constraints Drive Window Selection
The published windows reflect careful consideration of lighting conditions, so that Orion is not in darkness for more than 90 minutes at a time post-launch, therefore allowing its solar arrays to keep generating power and the spacecraft to stay within its thermal limits. Dates that would put Orion into extended eclipses are removed from consideration.
Another consideration is that the launch window constraints ensure optimal conditions for tracking cameras and abort scenarios during the critical ascent phase.
NASA notes all dates remain subject to adjustments as the mission progresses through final preparations.
First Launch Opportunities Open February 6
The earliest available launch window opens on February 6, 2026, at 9:41 pm ET, with a 2-hour window. Launch opportunities continue through February 11th, followed by a brief gap, then resume mid-month. Each window in the February series shifts progressively later into the night, with the final February opportunity on the 11th occurring at 1:05 AM EST.
Should weather or technical issues prevent a February launch, NASA has identified windows throughout March and April. The March series begins on the 6th at 8:29 PM ET, while April windows open as early as 6:24 PM ET on April 1st—notably the only daytime launch opportunity in the released schedule, occurring approximately 1.3 hours before sunset.
Crew 11 prepares to board Crew Dragon and launch to Station on August 1, 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced in a press conference today that NASA’s Crew 11 would return early from the International Space Station due to an unnamed medical issue with an unnamed member of the crew. The date and time of that return has not yet been determined, and will be announced once it is determined.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov comprise Crew 11.
“Yesterday, January 7th, a single crew member on board the station experienced a medical situation and is now stable. After discussions with Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk and leadership across the agency, I’ve come to the decision that it’s in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew 11 ahead of their planned departure within the coming days.”
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
Regarding the specifics of when Crew 11 will return, Isaacman added that, “We expect to provide a further update within the next 48 hours as to the expected anticipated undock and reentry timeline.” That’s Saturday afternoon. Stay tuned.
Crew 11 ascending to orbit on August 1, 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
Crew 11 launched on August 1, 2025 and has spent 160 days in space since then. Originally planned to return next month after the arrival and handoff to Crew 12, which had planned to launch in mid-February.
Later, Isaacman said plainly, “This is not an emergency deorbit. We retain the capability to bring astronauts home in a matter of hours if necessary. So this is recognizing, first of all, we’re always going to do the right thing for our astronauts, but it’s recognizing it’s the end of the Crew 11 mission right now.”
Jared Isaacman, January 8, 2026. Via NASA Stream
So, one of the four astronauts has a serious enough issue to require testing or treatment on Earth, but it is not an immediate life-or-death emergency requiring Crew 11 to return to Earth with all possible haste. Instead, NASA is moving the timeline up for Crew 11’s return as a matter of prudence for one of its astronauts (or cosmonauts).
Once Crew 11 and Crew Dragon departs, ISS would be down to a skeleton crew: Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev from Roscosmos and NASA’s Chris Williams. They would have only the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft that docked on Nov. 27, 2025 as a return vehicle.
NASA is looking at accelerating the Crew 12 launch, but no new target date has been announced. “Alongside our international and commercial partners, NASA is evaluating their timeline to include earlier launch opportunities. We will provide more information when it’s available,” Isaacman announced.
What About Artemis II? Could This Issue Create A Delay?
Crew 12 is slated to fly in mid-February from The Cape, and launching earlier might have NASA preparing to launch two different crews on two entirely different missions in a very short timespan: Artemis II is currently scheduled to fly in early February. Launching Crew 12 earlier puts the two closer together on the calendar.
Asked if that would create a conflict within the agency, Isaacman replied to CBS News’s Bill Harwood that “These are totally separate campaigns at this point. We’re still evaluating what earlier dates would be achievable, if any, for Crew 12. So right now we’re going to look at all operations, all of our all of our standard process[es] to prepare for Crew 12 and look for opportunities if we can bring it in while simultaneously conducting our Artemis II campaign.”
Isaacman added that “There’s no reason to believe at this point in time that there would be any overlap that we’d have to de-conflict for.”
Artemis II, NASA’s return to lunar space, is expected to be rolled out to the launch pad this month, with a launch planned for February. That seemed like a good time to review my old Artemis I shots, and I found a few that were pretty good.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn first stage “Never Tell Me The Odds” made a happy return to Port Canaveral this morning, marking the first time that Blue Origin returned with a New Glenn booster after a successful flight and landing.
Dream Chaser undergoing runway tests at the former Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Sierra Space
Sierra Space announced that its Dream Chaser spaceplane has wrapped up a series of major pre-flight tests at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, adding that the successful campaign moves the vehicle closer to its first free-flying mission. Sierra Space also said that it hopes to fly Dream Chaser on its first orbital flight in about a year, in Q4 2026.
Florida Testing
Dream Chaser completed Electromagnetic Interference and Electromagnetic Compatibility tests inside NASA’s Space Systems Processing Facility. The work confirmed that the spacecraft can operate within expected electromagnetic conditions throughout its mission profile in space.
The team also ran high speed tow tests at KSC and Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility. For this work, a Freightliner Cascadia from Daimler Truck North America pulled the spaceplane down the runway to simulate landing dynamics and validate key autonomous navigation parameters.
Dream Chaser then proved it could receive telemetry and route commands between the vehicle and Mission Control in Louisville, Colorado using NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. This milestone showed the craft is ready for real time command and control during flight.
The test series closed with a post landing recovery drill that confirmed crews can safe the vehicle and reach sensitive payloads quickly.
Next Up: More Testing And Modifications
With these steps complete, Dream Chaser is expected to enter its final acoustic testing campaign in December 2025. After that, the company plans to pursue modifications in Colorado to support national security missions. These upgrades are intended to broaden the vehicle’s role and show it can meet a wide range of defense requirements.
Dream Chaser at KSC. Credit: Sierra Space
Dream Chaser remains on schedule for its first trip to low Earth orbit in the fourth quarter of 2026 under the CRS-2 contract, ending with a runway landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
“Every milestone reflects the grit, creativity and commitment of our team,” said Fatih Ozmen, Executive Chair at Sierra Space. “Dream Chaser is moving steadily toward its first flight and toward supporting the nation’s highest priority space needs.”
Dream Chaser Program Milestones
Year
Milestone
2004
Dream Chaser concept introduced by SpaceDev, inspired by NASA’s HL-20 lifting body design.
2008
Sierra Nevada Corporation acquires SpaceDev and continues development of Dream Chaser.
2010
Dream Chaser selected for NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program funding.
2013
First free flight approach and landing test of Dream Chaser Engineering Test Article at Edwards AFB.
2014
Completion of additional wind tunnel and structural tests, refining Dream Chaser’s aerodynamic design.
2016
NASA awards Sierra Nevada Corporation a Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract for Dream Chaser cargo missions to the ISS.
2017
Captive carry test of Dream Chaser at Edwards AFB to validate flight characteristics and systems.
2019
Final design reviews and major structural assembly progress for the first orbital Dream Chaser vehicle.
2021
Sierra Space (spun out from Sierra Nevada Corporation) continues integration and testing of Dream Chaser “Tenacity.”
2023
Major environmental and vibration tests completed on Dream Chaser and its Shooting Star cargo module.
2025
Pre-flight campaign at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, including EMI/EMC, tow tests, TDRSS command & telemetry checks, and recovery rehearsal; preparation for final acoustic testing in December 2025.
2026 (target)
Planned first launch of Dream Chaser to Low Earth Orbit under the CRS-2 contract, with runway landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Now that the federal shutdown is over, the FAA has issued a new Emergency Order that replaces the one issued November 7th. This new order makes the limitation on the hours during which commercial space launches can occur more or less permanent, stating that it will be “continuing until this Order is cancelled”.
Background
On November 7, 2025 the FAA issued an emergency order to impose operating limitations on U.S. airspace to protect safety of the national air‐traffic system, due to staffing and other disruptions in air traffic control centers. This new November 12 order cancels and replaces that November 7 order. It took effect at 6AM this morning.
Effect On Space
Under section IV.b.3 of the Order: For commercial space launches and re‑entries, beginning November 13, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. EST and until further notice, the FAA is ordering that commercial space launches and re‑entries will only be permitted between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM local time.
This is justified by the FAA as necessary “to accommodate reduced ATC services” and “ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace” in a time of stress for the system.
From a policy perspective, this event might raise questions within the industry: Will the FAA lift or modify this restriction once staffing/ATC stability improves? The document states the FAA will continue to monitor and may amend the order. How resilient is the air traffic control system as commercial space operations ramp up? Should space launches have separate contingency mechanisms? Does the field need more dedicated corridor management to reduce the impact of conventional aviation staffing issues on daytime launches? And most importantly, who would pay for all of those changes, if they were made?
For the time being, commercial space operators may have fewer launch windows, more schedule uncertainty, and potential added costs that will almost certainly be passed on to their customers.
Starlink 12-18 lifts off on February 18, 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order restricting commercial space launches and reentries to overnight hours only, a move that will significantly impact operations here on the Eastern Range.
Effective November 10, 2025, the FAA will prohibit commercial spaceflight activity between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm. local time, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages and growing concerns about strain on the National Airspace System (NAS).
The decision is part of a broader set of temporary limitations designed to reduce pressure on the country’s aviation infrastructure during the federal shutdown.
Section IV.b. — Prohibition on Commercial Space Launches and Reentries During Peak Hours
“Accordingly, with respect to commercial space launches and reentries, under the authority provided to the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. §§ 40103, 40113, and 46105(c), and authority delegated to the FAA Administrator under 51 U.S.C. § 50909(a), it is hereby ordered that, beginning at 6:00 a.m. EST on November 10, 2025, and until this Order is cancelled, commercial space launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time.”
— FAA Emergency Order, November 6, 2025
Immediate Impact On The Cape
The FAA’s emergency order may impact several upcoming missions. That depends on the mission’s classification—whether it is purely commercial in nature or conducted under federal contract on behalf of a federal agency. Here are our unconfirmed educated guesses:
ViaSat-3, a commercial communications satellite operated by ViaSat Inc. and launched by ULA aboard Atlas V, is clearly affected. As a fully commercial mission, it falls under the FAA’s order and cannot be launched between 6 am and 10 pm without a waiver. Any future ViaSat launches will need to comply with the restricted launch window until the order is lifted.
ViaSat-3 has no launch date as of the time of this writing after two scrubs in the past two days.
NG-2 ESCAPADE, the NASA science mission destined for Mars, is launching aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn as soon as Sunday afternoon. As a federally funded deep space mission on a contracted launch on a commercial rocket, ESCAPADE will likely be granted priority treatment and probably would not be subject to the commercial launch restriction should the launch get delayed from its current planned launch on Sunday afternoon.
Northrop Grumman’s NG-2 mission occupies a more complex position. It is part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply program to ISS,. While the launch vehicle is commercial, the mission itself is flown under a NASA contract. That government link will probably allow it to proceed during restricted hours.
Starlink flights are directly impacted. SpaceX launches these missions for its own broadband satellite constellation and are entirely commercial in nature. As such, they must be scheduled during the FAA’s permitted overnight launch window unless an exception is granted. SpaceX has already been mostly launching Starlink at night, so the limitation may affect them less than one might think. Project Kuiper, the same: it is a commercial enterprise flying on a commercially contracted mission. That means overnight until further notice.
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