NASA closed out its final “go/no-go” poll Wednesday as it prepared to release Artemis II on its planned mission. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson ran through the checklist, calling each team in turn to confirm there were no constraints to launch: engineering, safety, range weather, mission management and systems integrity all reported “go.”
The exchange turned personal when the crew spoke up. Pilot Victor Glover said, “We are going for our families.” Mission specialist Christina Koch added, “We are going for our teammates,” and Jeremy Hansen said simply, “We are going for all humanity.” A final voice confirmed, “Your Artemis II crew is go for launch. Full send.” Blackwell-Thompson closed the poll with a sendoff reminding the four astronauts that they carry “the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people, our partners across the globe and the hopes and dreams of a new generation. Good luck. Godspeed, Artemis II.”
Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, listening in, grew emotional at the moment. She said the sequence recalled the inspiration sparked by Apollo 11 and said Artemis represents a chance to reignite that sense of wonder in young people. CBS News senior space consultant Bill Harwood echoed that sentiment, recalling watching Apollo 11 in high school and following the space program ever since. He called the new architecture — which could lead to returning to the Moon and building a sustained presence there — “very exciting,” and said he has longed to see humanity go beyond low Earth orbit again.
The go/no-go poll and the crew’s brief, heartfelt statements underscored how Artemis II is being framed not just as a technical milestone, but as a symbolic step toward a renewed era of exploration and inspiration.