Overview
- The Space Launch System and Orion rolled about 4 miles to Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39B on January 17 in a roughly 12-hour crawler move, and teams are configuring the vehicle for a full wet dress rehearsal.
- NASA plans to load super‑cold propellants and run a full countdown during the rehearsal; depending on results, the stack could proceed to launch or roll back for work.
- The first launch opportunity opens February 6, with additional chances through February 11 and later windows in March and April if needed.
- The 10‑day flight will carry Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a free‑return, figure‑eight loop beyond the Moon’s far side, reaching more than 230,000 miles from Earth before a Pacific splashdown.
- NASA’s public “Send Your Name” campaign remains open through January 21, with about 1.5 million names set to fly on a memory card aboard Orion and digital boarding passes available to participants.