Overview
- NASA will hold a March 12 news conference after the Artemis II Flight Readiness Review at Kennedy to provide an update on the crewed lunar‑distance test.
- SLS and Orion remain in the Vehicle Assembly Building for upper‑stage helium pressurization work, with a second rollout planned before a potential April launch window.
- A new OIG report cites “test like you fly” shortfalls for uncrewed lander demonstrations, noting no requirement to include full ECLSS, airlocks or, for Starship, the elevator in lunar conditions.
- The report highlights an unresolved dispute over Starship HLS manual‑control capability, warning that a late redesign or a waiver could increase schedule risk.
- Elon Musk now targets early April for the next Starship V3 test, reinforcing concerns about large‑scale orbital refueling and readiness for NASA’s revised 2027–2028 landing cadence.