May 1, 2024

NASA’s Massive Artemis I Moon Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad Ahead of Tanking Test

NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket– brought atop the crawler-transporter 2– rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022, beginning the 4.2-mile journey to Launch Complex 39B. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

In this view searching for, NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket and mobile launcher– brought atop the crawler-transporter 2– can be seen following their arrival at Launch Pad 39B at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

By NASA
June 7, 2022

NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket– brought atop the crawler-transporter 2– is reflected in the water as it approaches Launch Pad 39B at the firms Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. The rocket rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building in the morning hours to take a trip the 4.2 miles to the launch pad for NASAs next damp dress wedding rehearsal attempt ahead of the Artemis I introduce. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
At roughly 8:20 a.m. EDT on June 6, 2022, NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket reached the spaceports launch complex 39B after an eight-hour journey ahead of the next wet gown rehearsal effort. It started the journey about 8 hours previously, at roughly 12:10 a.m. EDT on June 6 (9:10 p.m. PDT on June 5), at Kennedy Space Centers Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
As the Sun increases, NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket– brought atop the crawler-transporter 2– approaches Launch Complex 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
A couple of months earlier, the first rollout of the Artemis I rocket started on March 17, 2022, coming to the launch pad for the very first time on March 18. After 3 different attempts at sustaining the without successful completion, the rocket was evacuated and departed the launch pad to be carried back to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

In this view looking up, NASAs crawler-transporter 2 can be seen bearing the weight of the firms Artemis I Moon rocket and mobile launcher as it carries the duo to Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39B in Florida on June 6, 2022. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

Teams will work to protect the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft and mobile launcher to ground assistance equipment at the launch pad and make sure that the rocket remains in a safe setup in preparation of the upcoming tanking test. NASA is streaming a live view of the rocket and spacecraft at the pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel:

NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket– brought atop the crawler-transporter 2– is shown in the water as it approaches Launch Pad 39B at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. The rocket rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building in the early morning hours to travel the 4.2 miles to the launch pad for NASAs next damp gown wedding rehearsal effort ahead of the Artemis I release. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

Artemis I Wet Dress Rehearsal stream.