Following early in-flight issues aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission, including minor communication lapses, a blinking fault light on the onboard toilet, and email disruptions, sources say the crew’s ability to remain calm may stem from an unconventional training environment: New Orleans.
According to multiple sources familiar with the program, NASA quietly conducted portions of Artemis II preparation in and around the New Orleans area. While the rocket itself was largely built locally, officials say the city has played an even greater role in preparing astronauts for what to expect once things stop working as intended.
“Everything technically works,” one source said. “Just not always when or how you expect it to.”
The training reportedly focused on maintaining composure during inconsistent infrastructure performance, adapting to unclear timelines, and continuing operations without reliable updates, all conditions astronauts have already encountered during the mission’s opening phase.
NASA has publicly described the onboard issues as minor and quickly resolved, noting the crew overcame the challenges by repeating a simple internal reminder: “Just say N.O.” a reference to both the mindset and their training in the city.
Sources say the New Orleans training emphasized resilience through acceptance rather than immediate resolution.
“At a certain point, you stop asking when it’s going to be fixed,” the source said. “You just keep moving forward and assume it’ll sort itself out eventually.”
NASA officials confirmed the training may have broader implications beyond the current mission. “If they can operate effectively under these conditions,” one official said, “Mars should feel surprisingly easy.”