Historic Crewed Mission: Artemis II Moon Rocket Rolled Out by NASA
On January 17, 2026, NASA embarked on a significant journey towards the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. The space agency began the rollout of its colossal Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. The 322-foot-tall rocket stack initiated its 12-hour voyage from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:00 AM EST.
The Artemis II mission is set to carry four astronauts on a 10-day lunar journey. The crew comprises NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. This mission signifies humanity’s return to lunar exploration and paves the way for future missions aiming to establish a permanent lunar presence.
The launch window for the Artemis II mission could open as early as February 6, 2026. However, the final date is contingent on the successful completion of a wet dress rehearsal and comprehensive systems checks. During the rehearsal, NASA plans to load over 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen to demonstrate the rocket’s readiness.
Source: NASA