NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket has completed its 12-hour journey to the launch pad, marking a huge step towards the historic launch of crewed Artemis II Moon mission on April 1. The rocket left the Vehicle Assembly Building earlier on Friday atop a mobile launcher for a six-kilometre trek to Launch Pad 39B of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“Now that the rocket is at Pad 39B, NASA teams are gearing up for the final stretch of prelaunch preparations ahead of launch as soon as Wednesday, April 1. The early April launch window includes opportunities through Monday, April 6,” NASA said in a statement.
The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission arrived to the launch pad today at 11:21am ET (1521 UTC).
We are gearing up for preparations ahead of launch of the crewed lunar mission. The earliest possible launch opportunity is April 1.… pic.twitter.com/153sj2QPOX
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) March 20, 2026
What’s next for NASA and Artemis II?
In the next few days, NASA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal of the SLS rocket for final checks of the launch vehicle’s components as well as the Orion spacecraft mounted atop it.
During the rehearsal, mission teams will fill the rocket with cryogenic propellant and conduct a full countdown similar to launch day. Besides, the four Artemis II astronauts will enter a mandatory 14-day quarantine to avoid getting sick before the mission launches. Their health will be monitored and contact with the outside world will be limited.
Artemis II is the first crewed lunar mission since December 1972 when NASA launched Apollo 17 – the last of the Apollo program.
It was scheduled to launch in February but several issues including propellant leaks during wet dress rehearsal and most recently a helium flow issue with the rocket’s second stage delayed the launch beyond March.
The mission will be commanded by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, a US Navy veteran who has spent 165 days in space on his first and only mission (in 2014) to the International Space Station so far. Accompanying him is the mission pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover along with two mission specialists – Christina Koch (NASA) and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen.
While all three NASA astronauts have flown to space once, Artemis II will be the first spaceflight for Hansen. Koch will create history as well by becoming the first woman to fly on a lunar mission and Glover will be the first person of colour to ride to the Moon.
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