NASA has reached a major milestone in its return-to-the-Moon program. On January 17, 2026, the Artemis II rocket arrived at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center. This marks the first time a crewed mission in the Artemis program has rolled out for launch preparations.
Standing 322 feet tall, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, carrying the Orion spacecraft, traveled nearly four miles from the Vehicle Assembly Building aboard the Crawler-Transporter 2.
Key Rollout Details
The rollout began at 7:04 a.m. EST and moved at a slow pace of under one mile per hour. By mid-morning, the rocket had fully exited the VAB. Engineers paused briefly to reposition the crew access arm, ensuring astronauts can safely enter Orion on launch day.
Weighing nearly 11 million pounds, the SLS stack reached Launch Pad 39B by 6:42 p.m. EST after a 12-hour journey. Rocket stacking was completed earlier in October 2025.
What Happens Next at the Pad
NASA teams will now prepare for a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for early February. During this test, more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic fuel will be loaded to simulate launch-day fueling, countdown, and tank draining.
After this test, NASA will conduct a Flight Readiness Review to confirm the rocket, systems, and crew are ready for flight.
Artemis II Launch Timeline
NASA is targeting no earlier than February 6, 2026, for launch. Artemis II will carry four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day mission around the Moon.
If delays occur, backup launch windows extend into spring 2026 due to orbital constraints.
Why Artemis II Matters
Artemis II is a critical test of Orion’s deep-space systems and crew safety. Lessons from past challenges, including Orion’s heat shield issues, have already been addressed.
With the successful rollout now complete, NASA is one step closer to landing humans on the Moon again through Artemis III—and eventually pushing onward to Mars.
🚀 One rollout. Four astronauts. Humanity’s next leap toward the Moon.
