Artemis II SLS Rolls Out to Launch Complex 39B
83 FOMOThe Artemis II SLS/Orion stack rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on January 18, 2026 — the first human-rated rocket at the pad since Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2011. A subsequent wet dress rehearsal on February 2 surfaced a liquid hydrogen leak. A helium flow issue detected February 21 forced a rollback to the VAB.
Why it matters
The rollback was a real setback but not catastrophic. NASA moved methodically, which is appropriate for the first crewed deep space flight in 54 years.
Coverage
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spacenews.com ·
Artemis II SLS Rolls Out to Launchpad for First TimeThe Artemis II SLS/Orion stack rolled to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on January 18 — the first human-rated deep space vehicle at that pad since the Space Shuttle era. The rollout marked a significant program milestone ahead of planned launch windows in February 2026.
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Veenie.Space Telemetry
The Artemis II SLS/Orion stack rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B a