NASA Ames Research Center contributes to Artemis II mission

NASA Ames in Mountain View provided the capsule heat shield and wind-tunnel testing for Artemis II, and the mission is scheduled to launch Wednesday evening from Kennedy Space Center.

NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View is contributing equipment and testing to support the Artemis II mission, officials said. Center Director Dr. Eugene Tu told ABC7 that Ames supplied the capsule's heat shield and conducted wind-tunnel testing to help vehicle performance. He said the crew will pass over the lunar farside and will observe features that could inform future landing sites. The Space Launch System rocket is scheduled to launch Wednesday evening from Kennedy Space Center with a two-hour window starting at 6:24 p.m. EDT. Known details: - Ames provided key components for Artemis II, reported Dr. Eugene Tu, including the capsule heat shield. - The center carried out wind-tunnel testing intended to support rocket and vehicle performance. - Dr. Tu said the mission will allow the crew to observe the lunar farside and identify features and potential landing spots for later missions. - Artemis II's launch window is scheduled to begin at 6:24 p.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center, reported sources. - NASA's Artemis program includes plans for a lunar landing near the south pole around 2028 as part of developing a sustained presence on the Moon. Summary: Ames' contributions are part of NASA's broader Artemis effort to return humans to the Moon and prepare for longer-term operations. The next scheduled step is the Artemis II launch from Kennedy Space Center during the planned evening window. NASA continues to report plans for a future lunar landing near the south pole around 2028.