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IN PHOTOS: NASA rolls out Artemis II rocket for first 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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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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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)
<p>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</p>

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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

<p>The move follows a successful wet dress rehearsal conducted on February 21</p>

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

<p>However, engineers had earlier identified a technical issue that prevented helium from flowing to the rocket&rsquo;s upper stage, prompting a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs</p>

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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

<p>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</p>

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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

<p>The mission will mark the first crewed flight under NASA&rsquo;s Artemis program</p>

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

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