The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule slated for the Artemis II mission have reached Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to NASA, the transit concluded on March 20th at 11:21 AM Eastern Time, following roughly an 11-hour journey.
The purpose-built Crawler-Transporter 2 moved the combined stack out from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The vehicle traversed approximately 4 miles (about 6.4 km), carrying the entire system, which stands around 98 meters tall on its platform.
With the rocket now positioned at Pad 39B, NASA is commencing the final stretch of pre-launch preparations. The targeted launch date remains April 1st.
The Artemis II crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, alongside Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Their objective is an approximately 10-day lunar flyby mission before returning to Earth.
Artemis II represents the subsequent phase of the American lunar undertaking, following the uncrewed Artemis I flight. NASA emphasizes that this specific mission is viewed as a crucial milestone toward bringing humans back to the lunar surface, establishing a sustained presence there, and paving the way for future crewed missions to Mars.
Meanwhile, as NASA finalizes readiness for its lunar flyby, Roscosmos is scheduled to dispatch the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station the day after tomorrow, March 22nd.
About the Author
