Artemis II rocket begins slow journey to launch pad Saturday

(TNND) — NASA officials say the Artemis II rocket is scheduled to roll out early Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone ahead of the mission’s planned launch and a return of astronauts to lunar orbit.

The massive Space Launch System rocket will begin moving at 7 a.m. as teams complete final overnight preparations inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. About an hour later, the rocket is expected to emerge from the VAB, offering the public its first full look ahead of the mission.

Once outside, crews will retract the crew access arm, a process expected to take about 45 minutes, before the rocket begins its roughly four-mile trek to Launch Complex 39B. Traveling at a top speed of just under one mile per hour, the journey is expected to take eight to 10 hours.

After arriving at the pad, teams will secure the vehicle and begin connecting it to launch infrastructure, including power, communications and commodities. Crews will also configure the emergency egress system and conduct a series of pad tests, including radio frequency checkouts known as Pad P testing.

The rollout sets the stage for booster servicing and a critical wet dress rehearsal, during which the rocket will be fully fueled and NASA will run through launch-day procedures. If all systems perform as expected, the launch director will authorize the closeout crew to complete final launch preparations.

NASA officials said the wet dress rehearsal will closely resemble launch day operations, with one major difference: the countdown will intentionally stop at T-minus 29 seconds. On launch day, the countdown will proceed uninterrupted through engine start, booster ignition and liftoff.

Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program, sending astronauts around the moon and paving the way for future lunar landings. Mission control teams and the crew are completing final simulations and training as the program moves closer to launch.

Officials called the upcoming rollout and testing period a significant step toward what they described as a “monumental day” for human spaceflight.