NASA Rolls Artemis II SLS–Orion Stack to Pad for Possible February Crewed Lunar Fly‑Around
NASA rolled the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B on Saturday, a roughly 4-mile, ~1 mph move that began at daybreak and arrived by nightfall as part of preparations for the Artemis II crewed lunar fly‑around. Thousands of Kennedy Space Center workers and families — including NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and all four Artemis II astronauts, with commander Reid Wiseman calling the rocket “awe‑inspiring” — watched as officials said a pad fueling test in early February will determine a launch date; NASA has only a five‑day window in the first half of February before schedule pressure would push the mission into March, after earlier delays tied largely to heat‑shield damage and other Orion issues from Artemis I.
📌 Key Facts
- NASA rolled the Artemis II SLS–Orion stack to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, moving the 322‑foot rocket and Orion capsule about 4 miles from the Vehicle Assembly Building at roughly 1 mph, departing at daybreak and arriving by nightfall.
- The rollout drew thousands of Kennedy Space Center workers and family members; the event was led by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and attended by all four Artemis II astronauts, with mission commander Reid Wiseman calling the rocket "awe‑inspiring."
- The stack was moved to the pad ahead of a possible crewed lunar fly‑around as soon as February (Artemis II); NASA will perform a pad fueling test in early February before committing to a specific launch date.
- NASA has only a five‑day launch window in the first half of February; schedule pressure after that window would likely push the mission into March if the agency delays a launch decision.
- Artemis II was delayed to 2026 largely because of heat‑shield damage and other Orion issues discovered during the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022.
📊 Relevant Data
Orthostatic intolerance, or the inability to stand without fainting for protracted periods, is more prevalent upon landing in female astronauts than in male astronauts.
How does space affect men and women differently? — PBS NewsHour
Female subjects are more susceptible to radiation-induced cancer than male counterparts, resulting in lower radiation permissible exposure levels for women astronauts.
How does space affect men and women differently? — PBS NewsHour
The Visual Impairment Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) syndrome affects 82% of male astronauts versus 62% of female astronauts who have flown in space, with all clinically significant cases occurring in male astronauts.
How does space affect men and women differently? — PBS NewsHour
NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class, selected from over 8,000 applicants, is the first in 40 years without any Black recruits.
NASA astronaut class appears to be first without Black recruits in 40 years — Mashable
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the rollout occurred Saturday, with the 322‑foot SLS and Orion beginning a roughly 1‑mph, 4‑mile move from the Vehicle Assembly Building at daybreak and arriving at the pad by nightfall.
- Details that thousands of Kennedy Space Center workers and families gathered to watch, led by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and all four Artemis II astronauts, with commander Reid Wiseman calling the rocket 'awe‑inspiring.'
- Adds that NASA will conduct a fueling test on the pad in early February before committing to a specific launch date and notes the agency has only a five‑day window in the first half of February before schedule pressure pushes the mission into March.
- Reiterates that heat‑shield damage and other Orion issues from the uncrewed 2022 Artemis I flight were a main reason this first crewed lunar mission was delayed to 2026.