The SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft were returned to the launch pad before the first crewed flight to the Moon.

NASA has postponed the launch of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft

At the 39B launch complex (LC‑39B) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA positioned the SLS launch vehicle together with the crewed Orion spacecraft. This is preparation for the planned Artemis II lunar mission flight.

What happened in recent weeks
* The rocket spent almost three weeks in the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB), where issues that arose after initial on‑site tests were addressed.
* Originally, the launch was scheduled for March 6, but excess helium pressure in the upper stage of the SLS could not be corrected on site. As a result, the launch had to be postponed.
* The next available launch window is April 1 (remaining open until April 6). After that, a new window opens on April 30.

Artemis II: first crewed flight of the program
Mission Artemis II – the first crewed component of the Artemis program and the main test of Orion’s life‑support systems. Commander – NASA astronaut Reed Wiseman. Pilot – Victor Glover (NASA). Supporting specialists: Christina Koch (NASA) and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (CSA). Duration 10 days. Flight plan: a single orbit around the Moon, then return to Earth.

Why it matters
* The mission is considered a key step toward a real return of humans to the Moon.
* NASA’s goal is to land astronauts on the lunar surface by the end of 2028.

Current crew status
The astronauts are in quarantine at Johnson Space Center (Houston). They will remain there for another week before heading to Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations.