Protective aerodynamic panels separate from the launch abort system following the liftoff of the Artemis II test flight on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the event of early ascent emergencies, the launch abort system would quickly pull the Orion spacecraft and the crew safely away from the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. If needed for an abort, the launch abort system can accelerate from 0 to 500 mph in 2 seconds.