NASA's Artemis II Mission Prepares for Historic Moon Expedition

Sun Jan 18 2026 23:49:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

NASA's mega rocket has successfully reached its launch pad, marking a crucial moment in preparations for the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, slated for February 2026.

NASA's Space Launch System rocket has arrived at Launch Pad 39B in Cape Canaveral, Florida, readying for the Artemis II mission. This historic mission will be the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, with astronauts set to embark on a 10-day trip around the lunar surface. The rocket underwent a 12-hour journey to its launch position and will soon undergo final checks and tests.

NASA's mega rocket has been moved to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the final preparations get underway for the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.

Over almost 12 hours, the 98m-tall Space Launch System was carried vertically from the Vehicle Assembly Building on the 4-mile (6.5km) journey to the pad.

Now it is in position, final tests and checks, including a dress rehearsal, will take place before the go-ahead is given for the 10-day Artemis II mission that will see four astronauts travel around the Moon.

Nasa says the earliest the rocket can blast off is 6 February, but there are additional launch windows later that month, as well as in March and April.

The rocket began moving at 07:04 local time (12:04 GMT) and arrived at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center at 18:41 local time (23:42 GMT). The rocket was carried by a huge machine called a crawler-transporter, traveling at a top speed of 0.82 mph (1.3 km/h). Live coverage captured the slow-moving spectacle.

Nasa said the rocket will be prepared over the next few days for what it calls a 'wet dress rehearsal' - a test for fuel operations and countdown procedures.

The Artemis II crew, which includes Nasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, were on-site watching the rocket as it was moved.

The mission is significant as it lays the groundwork for a future lunar landing led by Artemis III, scheduled for 2027 or possibly 2028. Meanwhile, Koch expressed excitement at the sight of the rocket, emphasizing the readiness and calm of the astronauts on launch day.

Before heading to the Moon, the first two days of the mission will be spent in orbit around the Earth, reaching distances of 40,000 miles out.

During its journey around the far side of the Moon, the crew will spend three hours observing the lunar surface to conduct studies that will inform future landing plans.

With the rocket now situated on Launchpad 39B, the Artemis team is under pressure to ensure readiness for the mission while maintaining a stringent focus on crew safety. John Honeycutt emphasized the priority of a safe return for the astronauts, stating, 'We're going to fly when we're ready... crew safety is going to be our number one priority.'