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NASA rolled out the Moonbound Artemis II rocket and spacecraft, achieving a "huge milestone" on Saturday, January 17. The rollout of the powerful Stacked Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft officially started around 7:04 am ET.
NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carried the 11-million-pound stack at about one mile per hour along the four-mile route to Launch Pad 39B.
The rocket is now on its Launch Pad 39B, after around 12 hours of journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Here are quick Frequently Asked Questions about the Artemis II mission:
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is NASA's first mission with crew aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft.
Artemis II is a follow-up of the uncrewed Artemis I mission and will be preceded by the Artemis III mission, which will be about landing Americans on the lunar surface.
What is the main goal of Artemis II?
NASA says Artemis II will pave the way for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The focus is on the Moon's South Pole.
"It will set the stage for future missions to land on the lunar South Pole for the first time and set up a long-term presence there."
Will Artemis II land on the Moon?
No, but the astronauts will venture around the Moon. The Artemis II crew will travel approximately 685,000 miles (~1.1 million km) from Earth, venture around the Moon, and return home.
Who are the astronauts on Artemis II?
The Artemis II astronauts are NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
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What spacecraft will Artemis II use?
NASA’s powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft nearly a quarter-million miles from Earth to lunar orbit.
How long will the Artemis II mission last?
It's expected to be a 10-day mission.
When is Artemis II scheduled to launch?
The earliest launch window for the Artemis II mission opens on February 6. NASA is expected to launch the mission by April. However, no launch date has been set so far.
Why is Artemis II important for future Moon missions?
It is NASA’s first human mission to the lunar south pole. Artemis II is a step towards NASA's aim to attempt astronauts' landing on the Moon's surface — "leading to a sustained presence on the Moon that will help the agency prepare to send the first astronauts – Americans – to Mars."
As part of its Artemis programme, NASA aims to make history by sending the first humans to explore the region near the lunar South Pole.
When is Artemis II scheduled to launch?
The earliest launch window for the Artemis II mission opens on February 6. NASA is expected to launch the mission by April. However, no launch date has been set so far.
How is Artemis II different from Artemis I?
Artemis I was an uncrewed mission, while Artemis II is a crewed mission.
What's next after the big rollout?
In the coming days, engineers and technicians will prepare the Artemis II rocket for the "wet dress rehearsal". It's a prelaunch test to fuel the rocket. NASA explained that the "wet dress rehearsal" is a test of fueling operations and countdown procedures. It's likely to take place no earlier than February 2.
The team will load the rocket with cryogenic, or super-cold, propellants, run through the countdown, and practice safely draining the propellants from the rocket – all essential steps before the first crewed Artemis mission.
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