NASA's Artemis II Moon rocket arrives at the launch pad
(2026/01/19)
- Reference: 1768833254
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/01/19/nasa_artemis_ii/
- Source link:
NASA's monster Moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), has trundled out to the launch pad – though the upper stage and Orion spacecraft look uncannily like a prop from a 1980s British children's television show.
After an almost 12-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the SLS, which will be used for the Artemis II mission, [1]reached launch pad 39B at 1842 EST on Janaury 17.
The first launch window for the almost ten-day mission around the Moon opens at 2141 EST on February 6, although there are opportunities through April 30, [2]according to NASA [PDF].
[3]
Artemis II SLS heading to the launch pad (pic: NASA/Keegan Barber)
The mission will return humans to the Moon (or at least around it) for the first time in more than half a century. However, unlike the first time humans headed to the Moon on Apollo 8, Artemis II will attempt a flyby rather than entering orbit.
The crew of Artemis II numbers four – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen – rather than the three on Apollo 8.
[4]
Several tests must be accomplished before launch, including a wet dress rehearsal (WDR), targeted for no later than February 2. During the WDR, countdown procedures are rehearsed, and the rocket is filled with cryogenic propellants, which are drained after the WDR is completed. Perhaps mindful of the [5]leaks that plagued Artemis I during its 2022 launch campaign, NASA warned it "may roll back SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work ahead of launch after the wet dress rehearsal."
[6]
[7]
Artemis II has suffered repeated delays. There was talk of a launch in 2022, and in 2019, NASA [8]reckoned 2023 would be the year of the crewed mission. That didn't happen. After issues were identified with the Orion capsule's heat shield and the spacecraft's life support systems, the target [9]slipped to April 2026. A launch in February would therefore be ahead of schedule.
[10]ISS stint ends early as NASA aborts Crew-11 over crew illness
[11]Historic NASA test towers face their final countdown
[12]Congress ctrl-Zs bulk of proposed cuts to NASA science
[13]Isaacman finally confirmed as NASA boss after Trump derailed first attempt
If Artemis II goes well, the next mission, Artemis III, is expected to land a crew on the lunar surface for the first time since the 1970s. However, the mission is targeting mid-2027, and there is every chance that the lander selected – the Human Landing System (HLS) variant of SpaceX's Starship – [14]will not be ready in time . If the delays continue, NASA managers will have to decide whether to wait for SpaceX or pursue another option for Artemis III.
If Artemis II runs into problems, there may yet be a plucky British alternative – at least for anyone raised on 1980s children's television. A [15]post from the Legends of Kids TV Facebook group compares the top of the SLS and Orion spacecraft to the vehicle from Button Moon. The resemblance is undeniable, though we're not sure Reid Wiseman would welcome a call sign of "Mr Spoon."
Amusingly, the image was also sent to us by an individual at a space agency that isn't NASA. They observed that it had been "going around like wildfire."
[16]
Quite why Europeans should have a bit of a downer on the US in January 2026, and be poking fun at NASA's Moon rocket, is a mystery to us. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/17/nasas-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-on-way-to-launch-pad/
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf?emrc=696e24a0831cb
[3] https://regmedia.co.uk/2026/01/19/artemisii.jpg
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/03/artemis_nasa_scrubbed/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/nasas-deep-space-exploration-system-is-coming-together/
[9] https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-orion-heat-shield-findings-updates-artemis-moon-missions/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/12/iss_command_handover/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/07/nasa_test_stand_demolition/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/06/nasa_science_budget_boost/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/isaacman_given_nod_as_nasa/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/22/nasa_starship_artemis_doubts/
[15] https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1458090336321130&set=a.496946199102220
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
After an almost 12-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the SLS, which will be used for the Artemis II mission, [1]reached launch pad 39B at 1842 EST on Janaury 17.
The first launch window for the almost ten-day mission around the Moon opens at 2141 EST on February 6, although there are opportunities through April 30, [2]according to NASA [PDF].
[3]
Artemis II SLS heading to the launch pad (pic: NASA/Keegan Barber)
The mission will return humans to the Moon (or at least around it) for the first time in more than half a century. However, unlike the first time humans headed to the Moon on Apollo 8, Artemis II will attempt a flyby rather than entering orbit.
The crew of Artemis II numbers four – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen – rather than the three on Apollo 8.
[4]
Several tests must be accomplished before launch, including a wet dress rehearsal (WDR), targeted for no later than February 2. During the WDR, countdown procedures are rehearsed, and the rocket is filled with cryogenic propellants, which are drained after the WDR is completed. Perhaps mindful of the [5]leaks that plagued Artemis I during its 2022 launch campaign, NASA warned it "may roll back SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work ahead of launch after the wet dress rehearsal."
[6]
[7]
Artemis II has suffered repeated delays. There was talk of a launch in 2022, and in 2019, NASA [8]reckoned 2023 would be the year of the crewed mission. That didn't happen. After issues were identified with the Orion capsule's heat shield and the spacecraft's life support systems, the target [9]slipped to April 2026. A launch in February would therefore be ahead of schedule.
[10]ISS stint ends early as NASA aborts Crew-11 over crew illness
[11]Historic NASA test towers face their final countdown
[12]Congress ctrl-Zs bulk of proposed cuts to NASA science
[13]Isaacman finally confirmed as NASA boss after Trump derailed first attempt
If Artemis II goes well, the next mission, Artemis III, is expected to land a crew on the lunar surface for the first time since the 1970s. However, the mission is targeting mid-2027, and there is every chance that the lander selected – the Human Landing System (HLS) variant of SpaceX's Starship – [14]will not be ready in time . If the delays continue, NASA managers will have to decide whether to wait for SpaceX or pursue another option for Artemis III.
If Artemis II runs into problems, there may yet be a plucky British alternative – at least for anyone raised on 1980s children's television. A [15]post from the Legends of Kids TV Facebook group compares the top of the SLS and Orion spacecraft to the vehicle from Button Moon. The resemblance is undeniable, though we're not sure Reid Wiseman would welcome a call sign of "Mr Spoon."
Amusingly, the image was also sent to us by an individual at a space agency that isn't NASA. They observed that it had been "going around like wildfire."
[16]
Quite why Europeans should have a bit of a downer on the US in January 2026, and be poking fun at NASA's Moon rocket, is a mystery to us. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/17/nasas-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-on-way-to-launch-pad/
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf?emrc=696e24a0831cb
[3] https://regmedia.co.uk/2026/01/19/artemisii.jpg
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/03/artemis_nasa_scrubbed/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/nasas-deep-space-exploration-system-is-coming-together/
[9] https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-orion-heat-shield-findings-updates-artemis-moon-missions/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/12/iss_command_handover/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/07/nasa_test_stand_demolition/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/06/nasa_science_budget_boost/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/isaacman_given_nod_as_nasa/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/22/nasa_starship_artemis_doubts/
[15] https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1458090336321130&set=a.496946199102220
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aW5jOajWe42KKeGUy_-omgAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
zebm
There seems to be a lot of crossed fingers at NASA. Hopefully the heat shield survives on the new re-entry profile. Why they chose to make it out of Avcoat rather than something modern like PICA is beyond me.
NetMage
More correctly why they chose to use a new version of a product similar to AVCOAT with different ingredients installed using a new methodology and design that wasn’t used on the first heat shield test and tested once so far on Artemis I boggles the mind.
"there may yet be a plucky British alternative"
Bebu sa Ware
International Rescue ?
Thunderbird 3 is presumably capable of a circum·lunar mission although with The Hood clearly running the US administration some interference might be anticipated.
If they make it to Lunar surface I am sure Lieut. Ellis could accomodate them in the SHADO Moonbase.
A can of Cavorite painted on a Reliant Robin chassis might be the high point of UK spaceflight ambition.
Fascinating
Anonymous Coward
It's always a mild source of amusement to me that they transport this so slowly to its departure location for it to eventually depart with at several Gs worth of acceleration :).
Surface suits
Even if the HLS is ready in time, it's entirely possible the suits for the Lunar surface EVAs won't be. In joined up planning, each crew memebr heading for the surface of the moon will need three suits, one to use in the Orion, another for the HLS and a third to go for a walk outside. The Orion and HLS suits exist, the surface suit is being produced by Axiom who are behind schedule and reported to be having cash flow problems.