NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout: A Step Closer to Launch
The highly anticipated Artemis II mission is taking a significant step forward as NASA prepares for the rollout of its integrated Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. The journey begins at the Vehicle Assembly Building and concludes at Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a targeted start time of 7 a.m. EST on Saturday, January 17th.
This multi-hour trek will be a spectacle, with a live feed of the rollout available on NASA's YouTube channel. The agency has organized a pre-rollout mission news conference, featuring key figures from the Artemis II mission management team and crew. The lineup includes John Honeycutt, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Jeff Radigan, Lili Villarreal, and Jacob Bleacher, who will provide insights into the mission's progress and preparations.
On the day of the rollout, the public can expect to see the 11-million-pound stack being transported at a leisurely pace of one mile per hour along a four-mile route. This journey, which could take up to 12 hours, will be a crucial step in the mission's timeline.
Media interested in participating in the news conference by telephone must RSVP no later than two hours before the start to ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov. It's important to note that only accredited media will have access to the in-person events.
The rollout to the pad is a significant milestone, but it's just the beginning. In the coming weeks, NASA will complete final preparations, and if necessary, the SLS and Orion may be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for further work. The Artemis II launch window opens as early as February 6th, but the mission management team will conduct a thorough assessment of flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal, involving the spacecraft, launch infrastructure, and crew and operations teams.
This mission is a pivotal moment in NASA's journey to the Moon, with the ultimate goal of scientific discovery, economic benefits, and laying the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. Stay tuned for updates on the Artemis blog and learn more about this groundbreaking endeavor at nasa.gov/artemis.
For media inquiries, contact Rachel Kraft or Lauren Low at Headquarters, Washington, or Tiffany Fairley at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
