NASA prepares spacecraft rollout ahead of Artemis II moon flight

NASA rolled out the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft as the first step for Artemis II, a crewed flight that will carry four astronauts around the moon and return within ten days. A wet dress rehearsal to practice fueling is scheduled for the end of January and the mission is set to launch no later than April.

NASA has moved the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft into position as the first formal step toward Artemis II. The rollout, performed on Friday, prepares the vehicle for a crewed lunar flyby that will carry four astronauts and return within about ten days. The mission was initially planned for 2024 but is now scheduled to launch no later than April. Officials say a wet dress rehearsal to practice fueling is set for the end of January. Key facts: - The rollout marks the opening ground operation for the Artemis II mission and was completed on Friday. - The Space Launch System (SLS) has been in development for about 15 years, has flown once on an uncrewed test in 2022, and reported per-launch costs exceed $4 billion. - NASA has scheduled a wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling at the launch pad; agency officials described that exercise as a critical pad test. - Artemis II will test Orion's life‑support systems in deep space and is intended to pave the way for Artemis III, which is planned to attempt a crewed lunar landing. Summary: The rollout is a preparatory milestone before fueling practice and final checks. The next scheduled procedural step is the wet dress rehearsal at the end of January, and the mission remains slated to launch no later than April.