Artemis II: SLS Moves to Launch Pad in Florida

On January 17, 2026, NASA's SLS for Artemis II rolled to its launch pad in Florida, with a launch slated for early February. The journey marks a key step in lunar exploration.

On January 17, 2026, the Space Launch System (SLS) for Artemis II began its journey to the launch pad in Florida, marking a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration efforts.

Scheduled for a launch in early February, the massive rocket commenced its slow trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the launch site. Standing at 98 meters tall, the SLS traveled a distance of 6 kilometers, taking approximately 12 hours to reach its destination.

Months of Preparation Culminate in This Moment

After months of assembly in the VAB, a motorized transport platform was positioned beneath the rocket. The Crawler-Transporter, which previously supported space shuttle missions until 2011 and the Apollo program before that, is now repurposed for the Artemis program and the SLS. This massive vehicle, measuring 35 by 40 meters and weighing around 2,700 tons, moves along a specially constructed path to the launch pad. The combined weight of the SLS and the crawler comes to nearly 5,500 tons.

The route to launch pad LC-39B consists of a gravel surface designed to support such heavy loads and spans approximately 40 meters in width.

At 7:04 AM (Florida time), the VAB doors opened, and the SLS began its journey. Nearly 12 hours later, at 6:42 PM, it arrived at the launch pad. It's noteworthy that the Crawler's maximum speed is just 1.32 km/h.

In the upcoming weeks, teams will conduct checks on the rocket and prepare for the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), which simulates a countdown under launch conditions. This includes fueling the tanks and placing astronauts in the Orion capsule, though without actually launching. According to NASA's latest updates, this critical test is not expected to take place before February 2. If any issues arise during preparation, NASA may decide to return the rocket to the VAB for adjustments.

Launch Window Opens on February 6

If all goes according to plan, the actual launch could occur shortly after. The optimal window for departure toward the Moon opens on February 6, with potential delays pushing the launch to the 7th, 8th, 10th, or 11th of February. Additional launch dates are also available in March and April.