tech

January 18, 2026

Nasa moon rocket creeps to its launchpad in preparation for astronaut flight

First journey around moon with astronauts in more than 50 years could blast off in February

Nasa moon rocket creeps to its launchpad in preparation for astronaut flight

TL;DR

  • NASA's giant new moon rocket, the SLS, has moved to the launchpad for a crewed lunar fly-around.
  • The mission could blast off in February, marking the first human trip to the moon in over 50 years.
  • The 98-meter rocket weighs 5 million kg and was transported from the vehicle assembly building.
  • Four astronauts are assigned to the 10-day mission: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
  • This flight follows an uncrewed test flight in November 2022, with previous capsule issues now resolved.
  • NASA is preparing for a fueling test in early February before confirming a launch date.
  • The last humans to fly to the moon were Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972 during the Apollo 17 mission.

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