NASA prepares SLS rocket for Artemis II lunar mission launch in 2026

NASA is preparing its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II lunar mission, set to launch no earlier than mid-2026. This mission will carry the Orion spacecraft with its first crew toward the moon. Recently, NASA released a time-lapse video showing the SLS rocket's core stage being moved to an upright position at the Kennedy Space Center. This allows technicians to access the core stage for further preparations. The SLS rocket, which generated significant thrust during its Artemis I mission in 2022, is crucial for NASA's Artemis program. Following Artemis II, the next mission, Artemis III, aims to land astronauts on the moon but has been delayed to no earlier than 2027.