The Space Launch System (SLS) from a rocket and that Orion spacecraft Artemis II arrived at launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 18:42 (local time).
The transfer marked the end of a nearly 12-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
The transport was carried out by crawler-transporter 2, which had started hours earlier on the approximately 6.4-kilometer (4-mile) route, traveling at a maximum speed of only 1.3 km/h. The equipment slowly delivered the erected rocket and spacecraft to the launch complex.
After leaving the gates of the VAB, the unit made a scheduled stop for teams to relocate the crew access arm — the structure that will allow astronauts and technical personnel to access the Orion spacecraft on launch day.
Over the next few days, engineers and technicians will prepare Artemis II for a so-called “wet dress rehearsal,” a key phase that will test the loading of cryogenic propellants, countdown procedures and the safe discharge of propellants. The test is planned to be carried out by February 2 at the latest.
A NASA does not exclude the need for additional trials to fully verify all systems. If necessary, the rocket and spacecraft can return to the VAB for adjustments before the final launch date.
The Artemis II test flight will involve NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a roughly 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth.
The mission represents another step of the Artemis program towards future manned operations on the surface of the Moon and a permanent presence on Earth’s natural companion, and also paves the way for future manned Mars-for missions.
Source and images: NASA. This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and verified by the editors.
