NASA’s massive new moon rocket is finally on its way to the launch pad, marking a historic moment for space exploration. It’s been over 50 years since astronauts flew around the moon, and that could soon change—launching as early as February.
Early Saturday morning, the Space Launch System (SLS) journeyed at a slow 1 mph from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. The four-mile trip took all day, and many gathered to witness this significant event. The crowd included NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, and the four astronauts set for the mission, who shared in the excitement.
Reid Wiseman, the crew commander, expressed the thrill of the moment: “What a great day to be here. It is awe-inspiring.”
The SLS rocket, weighing in at 11 million pounds, rolled out on a massive transporter that also served during the Apollo missions. NASA completed its first test launch in November 2022, which sent an empty Orion capsule to orbit the moon. This time, it’s different. The astronauts will not land but will embark on a 10-day mission that takes them close to the lunar surface.
Wiseman and his team include veteran astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—all eager to make history. This will be the first crewed mission to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, which completed lunar landings for the U.S. Only four lunar astronauts are still alive today, with Buzz Aldrin being the oldest at nearly 96.
The excitement isn’t just among the astronauts. Many are thrilled to see humans return to the moon. “They just want to see humans as far away from Earth as possible, discovering the unknown,” Wiseman noted.
Before confirming a launch date, NASA will conduct a fueling test early in February. Isaacman mentioned that they won’t set a date right away, emphasizing caution: “We’ve got zero intention of communicating an actual launch date until we complete the fueling demo.”
NASA faces a tight timeline. If they don’t launch in early February, they’ll need to push back until March.
With the renewed interest in lunar exploration, experts in the field say this could reignite a passion for space travel. According to a Pew Research survey, about 61% of Americans support the return to the moon, showcasing a strong public interest in space endeavors. The Artemis program, the driving force behind this mission, aims not just for lunar exploration but also for future missions to Mars, fostering a new era of space discovery.
The countdown continues, not just for a launch date, but for humanity’s next giant leap into the unknown.
For more information on the Artemis program, visit NASA’s official site here.
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