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2w ago

Artemis II Moon Rocket Reaches Pad 39B for Final Tests Before Possible February Launch

A fueling rehearsal in early February will determine whether a February launch window remains viable.

Image
The Orion crew capsule exits the vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., January 17, 2026. Launch around the moon and back is scheduled for no earlier than February 6, 2026. REUTERS/Joe Skipper
NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they make the 4.2 mile journey toward Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are seen illuminated by lights at Launch Complex 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Overview

  • NASA rolled the 322-foot SLS rocket with Orion from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B in a roughly 12-hour, four-mile move to begin pad hookups and integrated checks.
  • The agency will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal, including propellant loading and a launch countdown simulation, before confirming any launch date.
  • The earliest opportunities to fly open Feb. 6 with additional attempts on Feb. 7, 8, 10 and 11, followed by backup windows in March and April if needed.
  • The 10-day mission will send Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar free‑return to test Orion life‑support and navigation, marking the first crewed lunar voyage since 1972.
  • Lessons from Artemis I fueling issues prompted hardware and procedure updates, and NASA is also advancing a Crew‑12 ISS flight after Crew‑11’s early medical return, which could create tight scheduling for two piloted missions.