Artemis 2 Rolls to Launch Pad as NASA Preps Crewed Moon Mission

NASA is rolling the Space Launch System and Orion from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in an estimated 8–10 hour rollout, with live coverage starting at 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 17. After rollout, engineers will retract the crew access arm, connect ground systems, and conduct initial checks ahead of a Feb. 2 wet dress rehearsal and a targeted early-February launch window (Feb. 6) for Artemis 2, with backup dates in February, March, and April. Artemis 2 will carry four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—and is a key stepping stone toward Artemis 3 and a 2026 Moon landing, with safety as NASA’s top priority.