Title: Artemis 2 Rocket Rollout Latest News: NASA Ready to Move Giant Moon Rocket
NASA is making giant strides towards the moon with the Artemis 2, the next big thing in space exploration. As of Friday, January 16, 2026, the American space agency is ready to move this mammoth moon rocket to the launch pad, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s Artemis program.
The Artemis 2 mission is the second in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. This mission is unique as it will be the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program. The Artemis Program aims to land “the first woman and the next man” on the Moon by 2024, followed by a sustainable human presence by 2028.
The rollout of the Artemis 2 rocket to the launch pad is a colossal logistical operation. The rocket, standing at a towering 322 feet (98 meters) tall, is transported from the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the launch pad. This journey, although just 4 miles (6.4 kilometers), is a slow and cautious affair, taking several hours to complete.
The rocket’s move to the launch pad is a significant step toward its eventual launch, as it allows for final testing and fueling operations to take place. Once at the pad, the Artemis 2 will undergo a series of checks and tests to ensure it is ready for the monumental journey ahead.
Artemis 2 will be the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The mission is set to carry a crew of astronauts around the Moon in a 10-day mission, but they will not land. This mission is designed to test the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket before the Artemis 3 mission, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
As part of the Artemis program, NASA is also working on the Gateway, a small spaceship that will orbit the Moon, provide living quarters for astronauts, a lab for science and research, and ports for visiting spacecraft. This will enable astronauts to live and work in lunar orbit and make regular trips to the lunar surface.
As we look forward to the Artemis 2’s rollout to the launch pad, we are reminded of the exciting future that lies ahead. This isn’t just a giant leap for NASA; it’s a giant leap for humankind. The Artemis program holds the promise of opening a new chapter in human space exploration, and the rollout of the Artemis 2 rocket is a significant step in that direction.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Artemis 2 moon rocket rollout and the exciting future of space exploration.
Read more from the original source here: [https://www.space.com/news/live/artemis-2-nasa-moon-rocket-rollout-jan-16-2026](https://www.space.com/news/live/artemis-2-nasa-moon-rocket-rollout-jan-16-2026).