NASA’s Artemis 2 moon mission moved a major step closer to launch as its massive Space Launch System rocket arrived at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 17. The agency says the earliest possible liftoff is Feb. 8, with additional launch windows available later in February and into March and April.
The arrival was spotted from orbit by NASA astronaut Chris Williams aboard the International Space Station, which passed over Florida as the rocket reached the pad. In a social media post, Williams pointed out the faint shadow of the SLS and its launch tower, saying it would soon send four of his peers around the moon.
Artemis 2 will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The flight will mark several milestones, including the first person of color, the first woman, and the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
The 10-day mission will test the Orion spacecraft in Earth orbit, then have it loop around the moon before returning home. The launch remains dependent on the final testing at the launch pad, including a critical fueling rehearsal, as NASA stresses the rocket will fly only when it is fully ready.