Hegseth takes test flight with NASA administrator as they prepare for Artemis II flight

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth went on a test flight in Florida on Monday, flown by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, as the agency prepares for its Artemis II launch expected for next week.

The same day Hegseth visited their facilities in Port Canaveral, NASA began one of its final tests of the Space Launch System rocket, which will take four astronauts further into space than anyone has since the Apollo program ended more than 50 years ago.

NASA does not have a specific launch date for the Artemis II mission, though the test run will provide indications of whether the launch, scheduled as early as next Sunday, can proceed without delay. At roughly 11:25 a.m. ET on Monday, the Artemis launch director gave the green light