KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center have been working this week to prepare the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for November’s Artemis I launch attempt. The checkouts will allow NASA to finalize the work schedule before rolling SLS and Orion back to Launch Pad 39B, the space agency said Thursday.

Teams have extended work platforms around SLS and Orion to assess the exterior and access internal components, NASA said. Exterior inspections will note any foam or cork from the thermal protection system on the rocket or spacecraft that may need repairing.

The flight batteries for the propulsion stage and the boosters, as well as the batteries for the flight termination system in the boosters and core stage will be replaced.

Inside Orion, technicians will recharge the CubeSats and replenish the specimens and batteries for the biology investigations. They will also recharge the batteries associated with the crew seat accelerometers and space radiation experiments.

Although the Kennedy area received minimal impacts from Hurricane Ian, many team members who live farther west experienced larger effects from the storm and are still recovering. Managers are working with teams to ensure they have the time and support needed to address the needs of their families and homes.