Yesterday, January 17, 2026, NASA rolled out its massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft toward Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was a sight to behold! 🚀
The 5-million-kilogram orange-and-white giant made the 6.5-kilometer crawl on a revamped transporter, originally built in the Apollo era. Hundreds of workers and their families braved the predawn chill to cheer on this epic move. 🙌
Next up: a wet dress rehearsal. Engineers will load propellants into SLS for a full systems check. If all goes well, Artemis 2's crew—astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA's Jeremy Hansen—could launch as early as February 6 for a 10-day lunar flyby. 🌕✨
This mission will mark NASA's first crewed trip around the moon in over 50 years, following the empty-orbit Artemis 1 launch in November 2022. Eyes are also on Artemis 3, now slated for 2027 and facing potential delays due to Starship's timetable.
Stay tuned as history begins its next chapter—space is calling! 🚀🌌
Reference(s):
NASA moves moon rocket to launch pad ahead of Artemis 2 mission
cgtn.com
