NASA Preps Moon Rocket for February Astronaut Launch

The countdown to humanity's return to the moon just got real.

NASA is moving its towering Space Launch System rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparing for a mission that could send astronauts around the moon as soon as February. The Artemis II crew of four astronauts will become the first humans to venture near the lunar surface since 1972.

This mission represents the critical next step in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a lasting human presence on and around the moon. Unlike the uncrewed Artemis I test flight in 2022, this journey will carry real people on a trip around the moon and back to Earth.

The four-person crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Glover will make history as the first person of color to travel to the moon, while Koch will become the first woman to do so.

The mission will test all the systems needed to keep astronauts safe during deep space travel. The crew will spend about 10 days in space, flying farther from Earth than any human has traveled in decades.

Why This Inspires

This launch represents more than just a return to the moon. It's the foundation for future missions that will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.

The knowledge gained from Artemis II will pave the way for sustainable lunar exploration and eventually missions to Mars. Engineers are testing new life support systems, radiation protection, and spacecraft technologies that could one day carry humans across the solar system.

Thousands of people across hundreds of companies and universities have worked on this mission, showing what's possible when we invest in exploration and innovation. The rocket itself is the most powerful ever built, standing taller than the Statue of Liberty.

Young people watching this mission will grow up knowing that space isn't just for a select few. The diverse crew sends a powerful message that exploration belongs to everyone.

The moon is just the beginning of where this generation will go.