NASA Rolls Out Artemis II Rocket for Upcoming Crewed Lunar Orbit Mission

NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, which will carry four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—on a roughly 10-day journey orbiting the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule were rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on January 17, ahead of a planned launch as early as February 6. Unlike future missions, Artemis II will not land on the Moon but will test spacecraft systems and crew operations in lunar orbit, supporting NASA's long-term goals for lunar exploration and Mars missions.