NASA is preparing to roll its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launchpad Saturday morning, a key milestone ahead of the Artemis II mission – the first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years.The move to Launch complex 39-B at Kennedy space Centre will be livestreamed, offering the public a front-row seat to the preparations for this historic flight. Among the four astronauts slated for the roughly ten-day mission is Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen,poised to become the first non-American to journey beyond Earth orbit.
NASA is preparing to move its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launchpad this Saturday morning, a critical step ahead of the Artemis II mission to the Moon.
The multi-hour transport from the assembly building to the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-B in Florida will be broadcast live on the NASA YouTube channel. This mission represents a significant leap forward in lunar exploration, building on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I flight.
The Canadian Space Agency is closely following the preparations, as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is slated to be a member of the Artemis II crew. Hansen was present at a press conference Saturday alongside his fellow crew members and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
The Artemis II crew, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Photo : AP / John Raoux
NASA has identified several launch windows, each approximately two hours long, beginning February 6th and extending through the end of April.
The Artemis II mission will mark the first crewed flight to the Moon since 1972, and the first spaceflight for Hansen. The 49-year-old, originally from London, Ontario, is poised to become the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, a member of the NASA Artemis II lunar rocket crew, answers questions during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Photo : Associated Press / John Raoux
The Orion spacecraft will carry the four-person crew on a roughly ten-day journey around the Moon before returning to Earth. This mission builds on the success of Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight launched in November 2022 after three delays due to technical issues and inclement weather. The Artemis program aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and serves as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars.
