NASA races to keep Artemis II on schedule, even when workers aren't being paid

"The Office of Procurement has sent letters to contractors doing excepted work (including all the Artemis II contractors) indicating that work is authorized during the lapse in funding, the official said. Most workers have indicated a willingness to continue the work in the event of contract funding running out prior to the government reopening."

"Several months of work remain ahead for the Artemis II team to finish testing the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, complete training of the astronauts and flight control teams, and then transfer the entire 322-foot-tall (98-meter) launch vehicle out to Launch Complex 39B for a fueling demonstration and launch countdown. Thousands of workers across the country, primarily in Florida, Texas, and Alabama, are still reporting for duty to keep Artemis II's launch date early next year."

"In many cases, they're not getting their paychecks. Even while work continues, the government shutdown is creating inefficiencies that, if left unchecked, will inevitably impact the Artemis II schedule. Just look at what's happening with air traffic controllers across the United States as many of them are forced to take second jobs due to missed paychecks. The funding stalemate has contributed to widespread air traffic controller shortages and flight delays."

Officials authorized excepted work for Artemis II contractors to continue during the funding lapse, and many workers have agreed to keep working even without pay. Several months remain to complete SLS and Orion testing, train astronauts and flight-control teams, and move the 322-foot launch vehicle to Launch Complex 39B for fueling and a launch countdown. Thousands of workers, mainly in Florida, Texas, and Alabama, continue reporting for duty despite missed paychecks. The shutdown is creating inefficiencies that threaten the schedule, including air-traffic-controller shortages and travel delays, and program managers warn impacts are becoming significant and infrastructure-related.

Read at Ars Technica