NASA is advancing final preparations for the Artemis 2 mission, targeting a launch as early as February 6, 2026. This follows a schedule adjustment from the previously announced April 2026 date. The agency is preparing to roll out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This four-mile transport is expected to take up to 12 hours, with a target launch readiness date of no earlier than January 17, pending weather and technical reviews. Artemis 2 represents a historic milestone as the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo 17 flight in 1972. The 10-day mission will carry four astronauts to test Orion's life support systems during a flight that will take them 4,700 miles beyond the moon's far side.

Following the rollout, NASA plans a wet dress rehearsal involving cryogenic propellant loading and a full countdown to ensure system readiness for the upcoming crewed launch.