NASA's mega moon rocket arrives at launchpad ahead of Artemis II tests

NASA's SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft reached Launch Pad 39B after a 12-hour, 4-mile move; engineers are preparing a wet dress rehearsal targeted for no later than February 2 as teams ready Artemis II for a launch currently targeted no earlier than February 6.

NASA's Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft arrived at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center after a roughly four-mile, 12-hour transfer from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The hardware is being prepared for Artemis II, a crewed mission that will carry three Americans and one Canadian on a roughly 10-day flight around the moon. Engineers will run a wet dress rehearsal to test fueling and countdown procedures before final clearance for launch. The agency currently lists a launch target of no earlier than February 6, subject to final preparations. Key facts: - The SLS rocket and Orion reached Launch Pad 39B following a 4-mile, 12-hour crawl from the Vehicle Assembly Building. - Artemis II will carry astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen; the crew has trained together since being announced in 2023. - A wet dress rehearsal is targeted for no later than February 2 to load cryogenic propellants, run the countdown, and practice draining the propellants; additional rehearsals may be needed. - NASA says the launch is currently targeted no earlier than February 6 for a roughly 10-day mission, though final preparations could shift the date as late as April or require returning the stack to the Vehicle Assembly Building for further work. - Artemis II follows the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022 and is intended to pave the way for Artemis III, which is currently set for no earlier than 2027. Summary: The rocket's arrival on the pad begins a period of fueling tests, countdown rehearsals and inspections that will determine whether Artemis II can proceed in early February. Teams plan the wet dress rehearsal by February 2 and will complete additional checks as needed; the exact launch timing remains contingent on those outcomes.