NASA is poised to begin the rollout of the Artemis 2 Moon rocket on January 17, 2024, marking a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program. The agency plans to transport the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the stacked Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This four-mile journey is expected to take between eight and ten hours.
During a briefing on Friday, NASA officials expressed a mix of excitement and nerves about the upcoming mission. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson stated, “About an hour after we get that first motion, you’ll begin to see this beautiful vehicle cross over the threshold of the VAB and come outside for the world to have a look.” Live coverage of the rollout will commence at 7 a.m. ET, followed by a media event at 9 a.m. ET, where NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the Artemis 2 crew will address questions regarding their preparations.
Preparations for the Launch
After the SLS crosses the threshold of the VAB, engineers will pause to retract the mobile launcher’s crew access arm, a process expected to take approximately 45 minutes. Following this, the vehicle will roll toward the launch pad at a speed of just under 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h). Once secured on the launch pad, teams will connect the rocket to ground support equipment and run systems checks to ensure everything is operational.
The Artemis 2 crew includes NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They will conduct a final inspection of the emergency egress system at the pad. If all goes according to plan, NASA aims to conduct a wet dress rehearsal on February 2, where the SLS and Orion will be powered on and the rocket will be loaded with propellant.
This critical rehearsal will involve a countdown simulation without igniting the rocket’s boosters. Engineers will practice draining propellant from the SLS, a complex procedure that can encounter technical challenges. As of now, NASA is targeting a potential launch date of February 6, 2024, but the tight schedule between the wet dress rehearsal and the launch date raises uncertainties.
Future Launch Opportunities
If Artemis 2 is not ready for launch by February 6, additional opportunities are available on February 7, 8, 10, and 11. Further opportunities will arise in March and April, with dates including March 6 through 11 and April 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 30. NASA officials have indicated that there are potential launch windows “in just about every month” following April, should further delays occur.
During the briefing, Blackwell-Thompson emphasized that crew safety is NASA’s top priority. Although there is pressure to expedite the Artemis 2 mission, it is essential to ensure all systems are prepared for the journey. Artemis 2 represents the first crewed mission of NASA’s lunar exploration program and serves as a critical stepping stone toward the Artemis 3 Moon landing.
The mission aims to take astronauts farther into space than any human has traveled before, enabling them to observe parts of the Moon previously unseen by human eyes. As the U.S. competes with China in lunar exploration, Artemis 2 is integral to demonstrating that humanity is prepared for a return to deep space. This mission is not just a test flight; it is a leap into the future of space exploration.
