NASA uses Canoo CTV's in Launch Day Demonstration

Artemis II crew stands in front of a Canoo CTV. Credit: NASA

On Wednesday September 20th, NASA began a series of tests validating the Exploration Ground Systems team and structures.

This test, the first of seven, was for demonstrating all the procedures the Artemis II crew and teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program will undergo on Launch day.

Astronauts Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen awoke at their crew quarters inside Kennedy’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkouts building and tried out test versions of the Orion crew survival system spacesuits they will wear on launch day.

After donning the spacesuits they then made the nine mile journey to Launch Pad 39B in the newly acquired Crew Transport Vehicles(CTVs), which are based on the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle but modified to NASA specifications to become the first ever electric CTV. It has been speculated the CTV's are individually named after prior space programs based on decals on each of the vehicles. Wiseman and Glover headed over in 'Mercury' while Koch and Hansen followed them in 'Gemini'. The third CTV was not used, however we know from press release photos that it's named after the Apollo program.

Edit 9/21/23: The Apollo CTV was actually there for the initial drive leaving KSC but not was not involved in transporting astronauts and thus stayed in the rear end of the caravan.

Project Mercury was initiated in 1958 and completed in 1963. It was the United States first man-in-space program.

• Project Gemini was initiated in 1965 and completed in 1966. The Gemini 4 mission included the first U.S. spacewalk.

• Project Apollo was initiated in 1961 and completed in 1975. Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to the moon but it wasn't until Apollo 11 that saw mans first steps on the moon.

Mercury CTV

Gemini CTV

Apollo decal on Canoo CTV 003

NASA CTVs by Canoo

Astronauts Glover (at left), Hansen, Koch and Wiseman . Credit: NASA

Upon arrival at Launch Pad 39B, the crew went to the mobile launcher and proceeded up the tower to the crew access arm. This was a bit of a "dry" run without the SLS rocket, but if it had been there the access arm is where they would enter it.

Video footage provided by NASA can be viewed below of the drive from KSC to Launch Pad 39B:

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Authors disclosures: I am long Canoo - I own common shares, warrants and call options.

NASA uses Canoo CTV's in Launch Day Demonstration