NASA is preparing a major milestone for the Artemis 2 moon mission as the agency plans to roll out its rocket and spacecraft for final prelaunch preparations. The Artemis 2 moon mission remains on schedule for a launch window beginning in early February.
NASA confirmed on Friday, Jan. 9, that the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are slated to be rolled out to the launch pad on Jan. 17. The operation will proceed if weather conditions and technical readiness allow.
The rollout will be carried out using NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2. This massive vehicle will move the SLS and Orion stack from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center to Launch Pad 39B.
The journey covers approximately four miles and may take up to 12 hours to complete. This step marks one of the final ground operations before launch preparations intensify.
NASA officials emphasized that the mission is steadily progressing. Agency leadership stated that several critical milestones remain, with crew safety continuing as the top priority.
The Artemis 2 moon mission will carry four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Although the spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface or enter lunar orbit, the mission will represent humanity’s first crewed journey beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
Once the rocket reaches Launch Pad 39B, technicians will begin a series of tests and system checkouts. One of the most important procedures is the wet dress rehearsal.
During this test, teams will load more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the rocket. They will also conduct a full launch countdown simulation and practice safely removing propellants without astronauts present.
Previous wet dress rehearsals have revealed technical challenges. During Artemis 1, hydrogen leaks were discovered, forcing multiple rollbacks to the assembly building and causing significant launch delays.
Despite those setbacks, Artemis 1 ultimately launched successfully in November 2022. The uncrewed mission sent the Orion spacecraft around the moon and safely returned it to Earth.
Following the Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal, NASA will conduct a flight readiness review. This assessment will determine whether all systems are prepared for a safe and successful mission.
After the review, NASA will announce a confirmed launch date. The Artemis 2 moon mission launch window runs between Feb. 6 and April 10, though only 15 dates within that period are considered viable.
NASA has divided the window into three separate launch periods. Each period includes a limited number of possible launch days based on orbital mechanics and mission requirements.
The first launch period runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 14, with opportunities on Feb. 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. The second window spans Feb. 28 to March 1, allowing launches on March 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11.
The final launch period extends from March 27 to April 10, with possible liftoff dates on April 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
NASA noted that not all potential dates may be usable. Factors such as weather, propellant availability, and Eastern Range scheduling can further limit launch attempts.
As preparations continue, the Artemis 2 moon mission remains a critical step toward long-term lunar exploration and humanity’s return to deep space.
