UNITED STATES: NASA on Saturday moved its massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone ahead of the Artemis 2 mission — the United States’ first crewed flight to the Moon since the Apollo era.
The rollout, a carefully choreographed operation lasting up to 12 hours, saw the towering orange-and-white rocket transported nearly four miles (6.5 kilometers) from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. The move enables NASA to begin a series of critical tests ahead of a potential launch as early as February 6.
If all systems pass inspection, Artemis 2 will carry three American astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch — along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a roughly 10-day mission that will take them around the Moon. The crew will not land on the lunar surface but will conduct a close flyby, testing spacecraft systems vital for future missions.
According to AFP, NASA officials described the mission as a pivotal step toward returning humans to the Moon, a long-term goal revived during President Donald Trump’s first term.
“We’re making history,” said John Honeycutt, chair of the Artemis 2 mission management team, during a press briefing on Friday.
The astronauts were present at the Kennedy Space Center to witness the rollout. Hansen said the moment underscored how close the mission has come.
“In just a few weeks, you’re going to see four humans fly around the Moon,” he told reporters. “If we’re doing that now, imagine what we can do next.”
Glover echoed the sentiment, calling the mission an ambitious leap forward. “We’re swinging for the fence, trying to make the impossible possible,” he said.
Before launch approval, engineers will conduct extensive safety checks on the SLS rocket, followed by a full pre-launch simulation. NASA’s uncrewed Artemis 1 mission successfully orbited the Moon in November 2022 after multiple delays and failed launch attempts.
The Artemis program is central to Washington’s efforts to maintain leadership in space as China accelerates its own lunar ambitions.
Beijing aims to carry out its first crewed Moon landing by 2030 and plans to launch the uncrewed Chang’e 7 mission to explore the Moon’s south pole in 2026. China is also scheduled to test its next-generation crewed spacecraft, Mengzhou, later this year.
NASA officials have emphasized that sustained lunar missions will help prepare astronauts for future journeys to Mars. However, the program has faced repeated delays and technical challenges.
The agency surprised observers late last year by announcing that Artemis 2 could launch as early as February — a timeline widely seen as reflecting political pressure to move faster amid growing competition with China.
Meanwhile, Artemis 3, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon, is currently scheduled for 2027 but may be pushed back. Industry experts say SpaceX, which is developing the Starship rocket critical to the mission, remains behind schedule.
Despite the hurdles, Saturday’s rollout marked a visible step forward — signaling NASA’s renewed push to return humans to deep space and reestablish a sustained presence on the Moon.
