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NASA has begun relocating its massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to its launch pad ahead of a scheduled lunar flyby, after completing essential repairs. The maneuver, which can take up to 12 hours, started at 8:00 pm Eastern Time. Once it’s complete, NASA will proceed with final preparations for the next launch window set to open on April 1.
The towering orange and white rocket, along with the Orion capsule, will be carefully rolled out four miles (6.5 kilometers) to Launch Pad 39B. If all tests go smoothly, a crew of three Americans and one Canadian is expected to launch in early April to orbit the Moon, marking a significant step toward returning Americans to the lunar surface — a goal that President Donald Trump set during his first term.
However, this ambition has experienced setbacks. Late last month, NASA identified an issue with helium flow, prompting the team to move the Artemis 2 stack, which weighs approximately 11 million pounds, back into the Vehicle Assembly Building for investigation and repairs. Previously, technical problems such as a liquid hydrogen leak had also caused delays, cutting short a scheduled wet dress rehearsal.
The agency remains optimistic that the crewed lunar flyby, the first in over 50 years, can still launch in early April. The initial opportunity is April 1, with several follow-up dates available in the subsequent days. Meanwhile, the Artemis 2 astronauts entered quarantine in Houston on Wednesday as they prepare for what promises to be a historic journey.
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