NASA is gearing up for a pivotal phase in the Artemis II mission: the agency plans to roll out the super-heavy SLS rocket along with the Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rollout is scheduled for Saturday, January 17. The four-mile journey on a crawler-transporter will take up to 12 hours, though the date may be adjusted due to weather conditions or technical readiness. 
NASA Photograph
According to NASA officials, upon arrival at the site, final preparations will commence, including a series of tests and launch rehearsals. Engineers are finalizing solutions to issues identified in recent weeks, such as replacing a cable in the flight termination system, a faulty valve in the Orion hatch sealing system, and leaks in the ground oxygen supply equipment. All components are undergoing repeated inspections before the next phase.
On the launch pad, specialists will connect power supply, cooling systems, and cryogenic fuel loading operations, after which all combined systems will be fully configured for the first time. The concluding step will see the Artemis II crew members – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen – walk around the rocket as they prepare for the program’s inaugural manned lunar orbital mission, slated to launch in early February 2026.
