Artemis II Gears Up for Moon

NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to take a significant step forward as the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are scheduled to move to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rollout, targeting a start no earlier than 7 a.m. EST on January 17, 2026, marks a critical milestone in preparation for the upcoming lunar mission.

The journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B is expected to take up to 12 hours, covering a distance of four miles at a slow pace of about one mile per hour. This event will be accompanied by a series of briefings and live coverage, including a mission overview news conference and a media event with the Artemis II crew, streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel.

The Artemis II crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will participate in a media event at the countdown clock, providing insights into their preparations. This event is part of a broader effort by NASA to engage the public and provide detailed information about the mission’s progress and objectives.

In the lead-up to the February 6 launch window, NASA will continue to evaluate the spacecraft and crew’s readiness, with potential adjustments to the schedule for technical and weather-related considerations. These preparations underscore NASA’s commitment to the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and to lay the groundwork for future manned missions to Mars.