NASA has rolled its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 17, 2026. This movement comes as part of preparations for the agency’s next crewed mission involving astronauts flying around the Moon.

The Artemis II rollout began early Saturday and the massive rocket was transported over several hours from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pad. The operation marks a confirmed milestone in the lead-up to launch activities scheduled for the coming weeks.

The Artemis II mission is trending because NASA’s rollout represents a tangible step toward the first crewed flight in its Artemis lunar campaign. The mission is anticipated to occur in early 2026, targeting a window that opens in February for a flight around the Moon.

NASA has confirmed that once at the pad, engineers will conduct system checkouts and a wet dress rehearsal before final launch preparations. The exact launch date remains under review pending successful completion of these pre-launch checks.

The Artemis II crew will consist of four astronauts from U.S. and Canadian space agencies, whose names have been publicly announced and who are preparing for a roughly 10-day mission. NASA states the mission will test spacecraft systems with humans aboard as part of broader lunar exploration objectives.

The rollout and future launch preparations occurred at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 17, 2026. Launch windows under review extend from early February through later months as determined by mission readiness.

Sources
NASA
Space.com
Reuters