NASA’s Artemis II mission is rolling toward the launch pad, marking a major step toward humanity’s next journey around the Moon.
NASA is entering a crucial phase on the road to its Artemis II test flight. In the coming days, the agency plans to move its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first time. This rollout will mark the start of final integration work, system testing, and launch rehearsals ahead of the mission.
NASA is aiming to begin the move no earlier than Saturday, January 17. The journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B spans about four miles and will be carried out by the crawler-transporter-2, a process expected to take as long as 12 hours. Teams are working continuously to complete remaining tasks before rollout, though the date could shift if additional technical work or weather conditions require more time.
“We are moving closer to Artemis II, with rollout just around the corner,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. “We have important steps remaining on our path to launch and crew safety will remain our top priority at every turn, as we near humanity’s return to the Moon.”
As is typical with complex new systems, engineers have spent recent weeks addressing a number of technical issues. During final inspections, technicians discovered that a cable used in the flight termination system did not meet specifications due to a bend. The cable is now being replaced, with testing planned over the weekend.
