NASA Moves Artemis II Rocket to Launch Pad for First Crewed Moon Mission Since 1972

NASA has moved its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, marking a key step toward the Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar fly-around in over 50 years. Scheduled for as early as February 6, the 10-day mission will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen around the Moon without landing. Final tests, including a wet dress rehearsal, will precede launch, advancing NASA's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface and preparing for future Mars missions.