SLS and Orion moved to 39B at Kennedy Space Center; fueling test and countdown set for 2-2-2026 for a 10-day journey around the moon
The Artemis II lunar rocket is now on the launch pad, setting the stage for the final series of tests before launch. The mission will send astronauts into orbit around the moon and help pave the way for future missions to the moon and Mars.
At 6:42 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the SLS rocket and Artemis II Orion spacecraft completed their transition to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The transfer from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) took nearly 12 hours from start to finish.
Carefully timed transit across the Kennedy Center
The journey began earlier that day, when Crawler-Transporter 2 set out on a 4-mile (6.4 km) trajectory carrying the fully assembled SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. At a top speed of about 0.8 mph (1.3 km/h), the giant crawler steadily guided the lunar rocket toward the launch pad.
After the system passed through the VAB high-bay doors, the transfer was stopped as planned to allow crews to reposition the crew access arm – a bridge that allows astronauts and closure crew access to Orion on launch day.
Preparing for the “Wet Return”
In the coming days, engineers and technicians will begin preparing Artemis II for the “wet reentry” test – a full-scale test of countdown and fueling processes. Currently, the target is no later than February 2, 2026. As part of the test, the rocket will be loaded with cryogenic, or very cold, fuels and run through the entire countdown sequence.
The crews will also practice safely defueling the rocket – a critical step that must be mastered before NASA's first manned Artemis mission can move forward.
Additional tests and the possibility of returning to the assembly building
NASA may conduct more than one “wet return” test to ensure the system is fully ready for flight. If additional work is needed, the agency may return SLS and Orion to the VAB building after the test for further testing and adjustments prior to launch.
The astronaut team and mission objectives
The Artemis II test flight will carry NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Cook, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission will send the crew on a 10-day journey around the moon before returning to Earth.
This flight is another milestone toward future U.S. manned missions to the lunar surface. These efforts are designed to support a long-term human presence on the moon and help NASA prepare to send the first American astronauts to Mars.
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One response
Sorry to ruin the celebration. No one will fly to Mars. Certainly not in the next decade.
Humanoid robots will fly to Mars. Unlike the rovers that were sent, the robots will move on the ground and perform scientific missions.
Send humans to Mars for a year,
Dangerous, not profitable, and currently not technically possible.
They would also give up on returning to the moon, but it's already too late, after the progressive Democrats felt obligated to send a dark-skinned woman to land on the moon.
Trump sees this as an opportunity to make the United States great.