NASA's New Moon Rocket Moves to Pad Ahead of Astronaut Launch as Early as February
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (AP) — NASA's Space Launch System rocket, stacked with the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B on Jan. 17, 2026. The move marks a key milestone ahead of a potential crewed launch to the moon as early as February, NASA officials said.
The rollout prepares the rocket for the first astronaut mission to lunar orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA delayed the Artemis program for years due to technical issues, including fuel leaks and heat shield problems after the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022, officials said. The journey covered four miles at 1 mph on a crawler-transporter, starting at daybreak and ending by nightfall.
Thousands of Kennedy Space Center workers, their families and the four Artemis II astronauts witnessed the event. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended, according to NASA statements. Crew commander Reid Wiseman described the moment as significant for team morale.
"What a great day to be here. It is awe-inspiring," Wiseman said, according to NASA reports.
The SLS rocket stands 322 feet tall and weighs 11 million pounds when fully stacked with the Orion capsule, NASA specifications show. It uses the Block 1 configuration with a core stage and solid rocket boosters for deep-space flight. The crawler-transporter, built for Apollo and space shuttle missions, carried the assembly at a speed capped at 1 mph.
The Vehicle Assembly Building, constructed in the 1960s for Saturn V rockets, assembled the SLS. That facility enabled Apollo missions, which sent 24 astronauts to the lunar vicinity between 1968 and 1972, according to NASA historical records. Artemis II will conduct a crewed flyby of the moon without landing, mirroring Apollo 8's orbit in 1968.
Space.com reported the earliest launch date as no earlier than Feb. 6, 2026, based on NASA timelines. The mission aims to test systems for future lunar landings under the Artemis program. NASA seeks sustainable lunar presence and preparation for Mars exploration through partnerships, including with SpaceX for landing vehicles, officials said.
The rollout followed a NASA press conference on mission details, according to Space.com. Officials confirmed that International Space Station evacuation plans will not interfere with Artemis II preparations. The event draws parallels to Apollo 8, which provided a cultural boost in 1968 amid global turmoil, Space.com noted.
Associated Press photographer John Raoux captured images of the rocket during the move. Crowds gathered along the route, with workers cheering as the assembly passed, according to eyewitness accounts in AP reports.
The Artemis II crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, but NASA has not released the full roster in recent statements. The mission revives crewed deep-space travel after the space shuttle program's end in 2011. NASA overcame delays by addressing issues from Artemis I, which successfully orbited the moon uncrewed.
The program faces budget scrutiny and competition from China and Russia in lunar exploration, according to NASA briefings. Isaacman, appointed as administrator, brings experience from private spaceflight, including the Polaris Dawn mission, his biography states.
Pad 39B, used for Apollo and shuttle launches, now supports SLS operations. Post-rollout activities include propellant loading and system checks, NASA said. Officials reported no issues during the Jan. 17 move, despite potential weather or mechanical risks.
The Artemis program aligns with U.S. space goals, including the Gateway lunar station and resource mining. It promotes commercial involvement to reduce costs, according to NASA plans.
Space.com described the timeline as placing NASA one month from the historic launch. The site highlighted the mission's potential to inspire, similar to Apollo 8's impact.
Officials expect the launch window to open in February, pending final tests. Artemis II will carry astronauts on an out-and-back trajectory around the moon.
NASA confirmed the rollout's completion without hitches in a statement. The agency plans further updates on launch readiness.
The event boosts momentum for the program, which has cost billions, according to congressional reports. Successful execution could advance lunar economy initiatives.
