NASA’s massive Moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), successfully returned to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on March 20, 2026. This rollout marks a critical milestone for the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years.
Watch the Rollout and Mission Overview
- Artemis II Rollout Live Feed (March 2026): Watch the SLS Moon Rocket Return to Pad 39B This video captures the 11-hour, 4-mile trek of the 98-meter-tall rocket as it moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building back to the pad.
- Mission Explanation: Artemis II Explained | 2026 Mission to the Moon A detailed look at the goals of the mission and the technology behind the SLS and Orion spacecraft.
- Launch Pad Live Stream: 24/7 Artemis II Rocket Views Continuous live views of the rocket at Launch Complex 39B as teams prepare for the upcoming flight.
Mission Details
- Crew: The mission will carry four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
- The Goal: A 10-day flight around the Moon to test the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems and performance before future lunar landings.
- Current Status: After returning to the assembly building in February to fix a helium flow issue, the rocket is now undergoing final checkouts.
- Target Launch Date: NASA is currently targeting a launch as early as April 1, 2026.
