SpaceThe go/no-go poll: the last minutes before a launch
Before liftoff the launch director polls every console and needs a unanimous go to enter the terminal count, the final 10 minutes. This guide follows the FAA's launch rules, 14 CFR Parts 450 and 460, NASA's launch directive and the Artemis II launch day log.
Free to startWho may say go, hold or abort
Federal law makes every licensed launch name a mission director with the final approval to proceed, define who may issue hold/resume, go/no-go and abort commands, and record every safety-critical channel during the countdown. Each flight commit criterion, from weather and lightning to hazard areas, is verified before flight.
The poll and the terminal count
On Artemis II, Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson ran the go/no-go poll and the team entered the terminal count at T-10 minutes, with the ground launch sequencer in control. NASA's directive requires a Go from every party polled before the terminal count.
Holds and the crew
Between T-6 minutes and T-1 minute 30 seconds a hold can last up to 3 minutes before recycling to T-10, and after the automated launch sequencer takes over, any stop ends the attempt for the day. Every crew member trains for abort scenarios and emergencies. Run the poll free with Blocky.
Official sources
The launch rule
14 CFR Part 450 makes every licensed launch name a mission director, define who may call hold, go/no-go and abort, verify each flight commit criterion before flight and bring the vehicle back to a safe state after an abort. The full text is free to read.
Training the crew
14 CFR Part 460 requires every crew member to train for normal and off-nominal flight, including abort scenarios and emergency operations, and every passenger to train for smoke, fire, loss of cabin pressure and emergency exit.
The poll on launch day
The Artemis II launch day log shows every step, from the go for tanking to the unanimous go/no-go poll and the terminal count. NASA's directive NPD 8610.24C requires a "Go" from every party polled before the terminal count.
Becoming an astronaut
Become an Astronaut lists today's requirements and the selection steps. The Astronaut Selection and Training fact sheet describes the candidate training: swim test, altitude chambers, weightless flights, the neutral buoyancy pool and T-38 jets.
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