NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket completed a significant step today by traveling to its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a distance of 4 miles. This movement commenced at 7 a.m. ET, with the crawler-transporter, which has been modified for the Artemis program, facilitating the journey of the massive rocket, which stands over 300 feet tall and weighs millions of pounds.
Set to launch as early as February 6, the Artemis 2 mission aims to send a crew of four, including three NASA astronauts and one from Canada, on a 10-day mission around the moon. The spacecraft will reach a distance of 4,800 miles beyond the lunar far side, a record-breaking journey for human exploration. Following the rollout, a comprehensive systems check will be conducted, followed by a "wet dress rehearsal," where the rocket will be fueled, leading up to a countdown.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of completing the wet dress rehearsal before confirming an official launch date. Crew member Christina Koch shared her excitement about potentially breaking records, while mission commander Reid Wiseman expressed his awe at the moon, noting the beauty of its crescent during a recent sunrise.