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NASA rolls out Moon rocket for second attempt at crewed launch
NASA's massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is making its way to the launch pad at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, marking a critical step toward sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over five decades.
The journey to the pad
The 98-meter-tall SLS, paired with the Orion spacecraft, began its four-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Pad 39B shortly after nightfall. The rocket, taller than London's Big Ben, is being transported by Crawler-Transporter-2, a massive tracked vehicle originally built in 1965 for the Apollo program.
The journey, which can take up to 12 hours, moves at a deliberate pace of just 1 mph (1.6 km/h) to minimize stress on the $4.1 billion rocket and its launch platform. The slow speed also allows engineers to monitor for any unexpected movements in the towering structure.
Repairs and readiness tests
The rollout follows a March setback when a helium system issue forced NASA to abort the first launch attempt and return the rocket to the VAB for repairs. Helium is critical for pressurizing the rocket's propellant tanks, and any malfunction could jeopardize the mission.
Engineers replaced faulty components in the helium circuit and conducted extensive tests to confirm the problem was resolved. Once the rocket reaches the pad, teams will reconnect the launch tower, perform pressure tests on the helium system, and rehearse countdown procedures-though without fueling the tanks.
Mission timeline and crew preparations
NASA is targeting an early-April launch window, with the first opportunity at 18:24 Eastern Daylight Time on April 1 (23:24 UK time). Backup windows are available through April 6, with a final opportunity on April 30 if needed.
The Artemis II crew-Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen-have entered pre-flight quarantine and will travel to Florida closer to launch for final rehearsals, including suiting up and pad visits.
Historic mission and future goals
The 10-day Artemis II mission will send astronauts around the Moon's far side and back, marking the first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972. Success would pave the way for Artemis III, a 2027 Earth-orbit test flight, and Artemis IV, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028.
"This is a pivotal moment for lunar exploration," a NASA spokesperson said. "Every test brings us closer to returning humans to the Moon."
What's next
NASA's mission management team will review test data in the coming days to confirm readiness for launch. If all systems perform as expected, Artemis II will proceed, setting the stage for humanity's next giant leap.
