NASA Rolls Out Artemis II Rocket for April 1 Moon Mission
NASA has moved the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket to the launch pad, preparing for a planned April 1 mission to fly astronauts around the Moon.
NASA has initiated the rollout of the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aiming for a crewed mission around the Moon on April 1. The operation commenced at 8:00 p.m. EDT on March 19 and is expected to take up to 12 hours, with the rocket being transported four miles to the launch pad at a speed of 1 mph.
Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of NASA's Artemis program, carrying four astronauts—three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency—on a 10-day journey around the Moon. This mission serves as a precursor to future lunar missions, including Artemis III and IV, which plan to test lunar landers and eventually land astronauts on the Moon by 2028.
The mission has faced delays due to technical issues, including a helium flow problem that required the rocket to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. With these issues addressed, NASA is proceeding with final preparations for the April 1 launch window.
The Artemis II crew entered quarantine on March 18 in Houston as they prepare for the historic journey.
