Overview
- NASA plans to begin moving the stacked SLS and Orion from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B at 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 17, a four‑mile trip expected to take 8–10 hours at under 1 mph.
- Once at the pad, teams will secure the vehicle, connect power and communications, configure emergency egress, and run pad tests including radio‑frequency checkouts before fueling trials.
- A wet dress rehearsal around Feb. 2 will fully load cryogenic propellants and run the countdown to T‑minus 29 seconds, with outcomes driving the final go‑forward plan.
- The earliest launch opportunity is Feb. 6, with additional dates on Feb. 7, 8, 10 and 11, followed by March and April windows, and managers emphasize they will fly only when ready.
- The roughly 10‑day free‑return flight will carry Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen around the Moon without landing to validate Orion and life‑support systems, incorporating post‑Artemis I changes such as a refined reentry plan and upgraded ground safety access.