The return of astronauts to the Moon is becoming a reality as the Artemis 2 rocket is now in place on its launch pad. This move marks a significant step in preparing for the first crewed mission to our natural satellite in decades.
On January 17, 2026, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket left the assembly building for a journey of 4 miles (6.4 kilometers). This maneuver, carried out at a speed less than 1.24 mph (2 km/h), symbolizes the concrete start of preparations for a crewed mission around the Moon, scheduled in just two to three weeks.
Close-up view of the Artemis 2 rocket during its transport.
Credit: NASA
Standing 321 feet (98 meters) tall and weighing 5.73 million pounds (2,600 metric tons) once fueled, this rocket combines proven and new technologies. Its boosters and main engines, inherited from the Space Shuttle, generate colossal thrust to propel the Orion capsule toward the Moon, carrying an international crew.
The Artemis 2 mission is set to last about ten days, with a possible liftoff as early as February 6, 2026. Four astronauts from NASA and the Canadian Space Agency will test life support and navigation systems during this flight, which will follow a safe trajectory around the Moon without entering orbit.
This event follows in the footsteps of the Artemis program, initiated with the uncrewed Artemis 1 flight in 2022. Lessons learned from previous delays, such as hydrogen leaks, have helped refine procedures, with hope for a smoother launch this time to avoid unexpected returns to the assembly building.
If all goes well, Artemis 2 will pave the way for Artemis 3, a mission planned for a lunar landing. The long-term goal is to establish a sustainable human presence near the Moon's south pole, where resources could be utilized for more ambitious future explorations.
The astronauts witnessed this rollout after months of intensive training. Their mission will serve as a major test to validate the reliability of the equipment.
The free-return trajectory in space exploration
This trajectory is a predefined path that a spacecraft follows around a celestial body like the Moon, allowing an automatic return to Earth without additional maneuvers. It was used during historic missions, such as Apollo 13, to ensure crew safety in case of technical problems. By avoiding the need for functional engines after the lunar flyby, it reduces risks and simplifies mission planning.
For Artemis 2, this approach guarantees that the Orion capsule can return even if anomalies occur during the flight. Engineers precisely calculate the speed and departure angle to harness lunar gravity, creating a natural loop that brings the spacecraft back to our planet. This eliminates the danger of being trapped in orbit, offering a valuable safety margin for the first crewed flights.