NASA has begun moving its Artemis II lunar rocket and the Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, marking the start of final testing ahead of the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.
The slow, hours-long rollout initiates the last phase of preparations before launch. During this stage, teams will connect the spacecraft to ground systems and carry out full countdown rehearsals on the launch pad.
NASA has set February 6 as the earliest possible launch date for Artemis II.
Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed launch using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The mission will send astronauts aboard the Orion capsule on an approximately 10-day journey, looping around the Moon before returning to Earth.
The mission is designed to test life-support, navigation, and other critical systems ahead of a future Artemis flight that aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
The 11-million-pound rocket and capsule are mounted on a mobile launch platform. However, NASA cautioned that the launch date could change due to weather conditions or technical issues, noting strict limits related to lightning, wind, and temperature.
The space agency confirmed that the crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, with Jeremy Hansen joining as mission specialist. Hansen is expected to become the first Canadian to take part in a lunar exploration mission.
At a press conference, Artemis II Mission Management Chair John Honeycutt emphasized that crew safety is the number one priority, adding that the timeline depends heavily on successful tests at the launch pad.
Space policy analysts noted that the mission will follow a “free-return trajectory”—a loop around the Moon designed to bring Orion safely back to Earth even if its main engine fails.
“These are the kinds of days we live for,” Honeycutt said as preparations for the mission neared completion.
Former UK Space Agency head David Parker described the mission as “a big deal,” highlighting its role in advancing sustainable lunar exploration and eventually missions to Mars.
The United States has not sent astronauts to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA’s Artemis I mission in 2022, which flew Orion around the Moon without a crew, laid the groundwork for Artemis II. This upcoming mission is a key step toward crewed lunar landings and establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.
