NASA has moved the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparing for the Artemis 2 mission to send humans to orbit the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. The launch could happen as early as 6 February, aiming to gain an edge over China in space exploration.
On Saturday, 17 January, NASA began moving the massive orange-and-white Space Launch System (SLS) rocket along with the Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to Launch Pad 39B. The careful journey covered 6.5 kilometers and took up to 12 hours.
This move marks the start of final system tests before the Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled for a possible launch on 6 February. If all tests proceed as planned, three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut will embark on a 10-day mission orbiting the Moon. Though no lunar landing is planned, this represents a significant step toward President Donald Trump's goal of returning humans to the Moon.
On the day of the rocket’s move, the four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Cook, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—were present to see the rocket in person. Hansen expressed excitement and confidence that this mission will prove humans can achieve incredible feats.
NASA is pushing hard after long delays, with the February timeline reflecting the Trump administration’s desire to outpace China in space exploration. China currently plans to send humans to the Moon by 2030 and is preparing an uncrewed "Chang'e 7" mission to explore the lunar south pole in 2026.
However, while Artemis 2 is progressing well, the Artemis 3 mission—which aims to land astronauts on the Moon and is planned for 2027—may be postponed. Experts note that Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to face delays in developing the Starship rocket, which is essential for landing astronauts on the lunar surface.
/sourceBBC