A side view shows NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on mobile launcher 1 at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), around the Moon and back to Earth. (NASA)
NASA is preparing to move its Artemis II Moon mission rocket off the launch pad as cold temperatures and strong winds disrupt work at Kennedy Space Center.
The rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building is scheduled for early Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Agency officials say cold temperatures and strong winds limited work at Launch Complex 39B on Tuesday. Moving the rocket on Wednesday will give crews additional time to safely complete preparations that could not be finished because of the conditions.
The rollback of the Artemis II rocket and spacecraft is expected to take up to 12 hours for the roughly four-mile trip.
Once inside, teams will begin installing work platforms to access an area tied to a previously identified helium flow issue, allowing further inspections and repairs to continue.
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program and is designed to send astronauts on a flight around the Moon and back to Earth.
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Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024, leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes, all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.