KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PRESS SITE, FL – NASA’s Artemis II SLS Orion rocket destined to carry the first humans to the Moon on a history making mission as soon as early February was rolled out to launchpad 39B on 17 Jan 2026 over 12 hours stretching from dawn to dusk
The rollout of the 11-million-pound Artemis II SLS/Orion rocket integrated stack from NASA’s VAB or Vehicle Assembly Building to launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center started with first motion at 7:04 a.m. EST using NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 and marks another major milestone on the path to launch.
The stack moved at almost one mile per hour (maximum speed of just 0.82 mph) along the four-mile route from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B, on a journey that will take up to 12 hours.
Enjoy our Artemis II rollout and briefing event photos taken at various spots along the way by the Space UpClose team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright who attended the event as media
NASA is targeting liftoff of the Artemis II mission with an international team of 4 astronauts from the US and Canada for no earlier then NET Feb. 6, 2026 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Their 10-day mission entails a lunar flyby around the Moon and back carrying humans further into deep space away from Earth than ever before
Artemis II counts as the first mission to the Moon by humans in over 50 years since NASA’s Apollo 17 lunar landing mission conducted in December 1972
The historic flight will carry four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby to the moon’s far side, preparing for humans to eventually return to the moon on Artemis III.
The Artemis II crew comprises Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch of NASA, along with CSA’s (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen
The Artemis II crew participated in a media briefing event at 9 a.m. ET during the rocket rollout.
Ken Kremer of Space UpClose posed a question about science they will be conducting during the 10-day mission. I asked the 3rd question – which is seen at the 18-minute mark in this NASA video:
https://www.youtube.com/live/tTs799cmxBc?si=USoXzL-w7hTXDjEK
Caption: NASA’s Artemis II Crew Rollout Media Event. Streamed live on Jan 17, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the crew of Artemis II (NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch; Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen) are at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to answer questions from the media about the upcoming mission and preparations. Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Credit: NASA
During the rollout I was interviewed live by Sky News at about 145 p.m. ET directly from the KSC press site as the rollout was already well underway
Here is my complete live Sky News interview:
Caption: Ken Kremer of Space UpClose Live Interview on Sky News About NASA Artemis II rocket rollout to launchpad on 17 Jan 2026. Interview at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Artemis II liftoff targeting early Feb 2026 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
In the coming weeks, NASA will complete final preparations of the rocket.
If needed, NASA will roll back SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work.
“While the Artemis II launch window opens as early as Friday, Feb. 6, the mission management team will assess flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal across the spacecraft, launch infrastructure, and the crew and operations teams before selecting a launch date,” says NASA.
Ken Kremer recent TV interviews
Jan 17 Sky News at KSC press site as Artemis II rollout was underway
Jan 15 Fox 35 Orlando: I’m Interviewed live about the successful return of crew 11 after the medical evacuation from the ISS. And what’s next for NASA and the crew and Artemis II. At Space View Park, Titusville
Jan 14: WESH 2 NBC News Orlando My complete live interview – With my analysis and commentary about NASA Crew-11 undocking from ISS this afternoon Jan 14 for early return to Earth with an ailing astronaut & NASA Artemis II moon launch status update with rocket rollout to pad 39B Jan 17 and launch NET Feb 6. Also -whats ahead with Artemis III moon landing far behind schedule since SpaceX moon lander years behind schedule – challenges for the new NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman:
https://www.wesh.com/article/nasa-major-projects-new-leadership/70004483
Jan 14 WESH 2 NBC News Orlando: My Artemis II comments
https://www.wesh.com/article/central-florida-beach-close-artemis-ii-launch/70002462
Jan 13 Fox 35 Orlando: Crew 11 update
Jan 8 Fox 35 Orlando: Here is my complete live interview by FOX 35 Orlando anchor Garret Wymer that’s was recorded at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 – about the ailing crew 11 astronaut on board the International Space Station.
https://youtu.be/IPwuC-SSlqE?si=sdh98X9HAJ0SjxGR
Caption: Spacewalk canceled, Crew 11 could come home early – NASA has postponed its first ISS spacewalk of the year, citing medical concerns for one of its crew members. NASA astronauts planned two spacewalks in January to conduct repairs and upgrades to the International Space Station. Ken Kremer, managing editor of Space UpClose, spoke with FOX 35’s Garrett Wymer about the latest on Jan 8, 2026
Jan 9 at WFTV ABC News Orlando: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nasa-finalizing-crew-11-return-013912159.html
Jan 10 Fox 35 Orlando: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/nasa-spacex-set-date-crew-11s-return-earth-what-we-know
Video
Caption: Ken Kremer of Space UpClose Live Interview on Sky News About NASA Artemis II rocket rollout to launchpad on 17 Jan 2026. Interview at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Artemis II liftoff targeting early Feb 2026 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Video: https://youtu.be/U2ybAVZmVLM
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