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IN PHOTOS: NASA rolls out Artemis II rocket to launch pad for historic crewed Moon mission

Updated On: 20 March, 2026 01:46 PM IST | Anushree Gaikwad

NASA has begun rolling out the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, marking a key milestone ahead of its upcoming crewed Moon mission. (PICS/ AFP) (INFO: NASA)

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The rollout began at 12:20 a.m. EDT on Friday after being delayed earlier due to high winds. PIC/ AFP

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The rollout began at 12:20 a.m. EDT on Friday after being delayed earlier due to high winds. PIC/ AFP
The journey to the launch pad is expected to take nearly 12 hours, with the crawler-transporter carrying the rocket and spacecraft about four miles along the crawlerway

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The journey to the launch pad is expected to take nearly 12 hours, with the crawler-transporter carrying the rocket and spacecraft about four miles along the crawlerway

The move follows a successful wet dress rehearsal conducted on February 21

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The move follows a successful wet dress rehearsal conducted on February 21

However, engineers had earlier identified a technical issue that prevented helium from flowing to the rocket’s upper stage, prompting a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs

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However, engineers had earlier identified a technical issue that prevented helium from flowing to the rocket’s upper stage, prompting a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs

Artemis II is set to carry four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back

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Artemis II is set to carry four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back

The mission will mark the first crewed flight under NASA’s Artemis program

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The mission will mark the first crewed flight under NASA’s Artemis program

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