NASA ’s much - anticipated Artemis II mission has experienced multiple holdup in recent old age , with the delegacy currently point no in the first place than February 2026 for a trajectory that will institutionalize four spaceman on a ocean trip around the moon .

The Artemis II cosmonaut , as well as folks following the mission cookery , will be pleased to learn that NASA recently lift the SLS Eruca vesicaria sativa ’s core level into position , joining it to the two solid rocket salad relay link in essential work hold out inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center .

After move the@NASA_SLScore stage north in the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer gangway , team began abstract it with two of the quickness ’s overhead cranes , reorientate it into a perpendicular spatial relation . This is called a “ breakover.”pic.twitter.com/phNH0nWcIU

& mdash ; NASA's Exploration Ground Systems ( @NASAGroundSys)March 25 , 2025

“ The core stage is the largest component of the projectile , stand 212 feet marvellous , ” NASA said in an update posted on its web site this week . “ The stage is the vertebral column of the skyrocket , supporting the launching fomite stage adapter , interim cryogenic propulsion stage , Orion stage adapter , and the Orion ballistic capsule for the agency ’s crew Artemis II mission . ”

Need a boost ? 🚀

team lowered the@NASAArtemisII@NASA_SLScore stage onto wandering launcher 1 between the twinned solid skyrocket boosters . The system of weights of the core phase is supported by the admirer , attaching with struts at several points . These strut that connect the ironware are…pic.twitter.com/ubs6cmo6uA

Artemis II

NASA’ssuccessful Artemis I missionflew an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the synodic month in 2022 . The Artemis II test flight will send astronauts Christina Koch , Victor Glover , Reid Wiseman , and Jeremy Hansen on the same road , revolve the moonlight before repay to Earth in a missionary work expect to last about 10 sidereal day .

The voyage will aid to sustain the foundational organization and computer hardware needed for human mystifying distance geographic expedition , which could finally need crewed military mission to Mars .

The quick goal , however , is to refund humans to the lunar surface in the Artemis III delegation that NASA is currently targeting for 2027 .

The Artemis II astronauts have been in training ever since they were announced for the mission in April 2023 . NASA has been sharing occasional update about their cookery , which have let in work onsafely exiting from the Orion spacecraftshould an pinch site happen right away after splashdown at the remainder of the charge .

Gl0ver and Wiseman also latterly appeared in a NASA telecasting explain how they ’ll beputting the Orion spacecraft through its pacesduring what should be an incredible lunar adventure .