BREAKING: Historic Moment – NASA’s Moon Rocket Rolls Out Tomorrow for First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years

January 17, 2026 – Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Picture the scene: Early morning light filters across Florida’s Space Coast as the gigantic doors of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building swing open. Towering inside is the colossal Space Launch System (SLS) rocket – 322 feet tall, weighing a staggering 11 million pounds – crowned by the Orion spacecraft. This beast of engineering is the most powerful rocket ever designed for carrying humans into deep space. And tomorrow, for the first time since the Apollo era ended more than half a century ago, a rocket set to take astronauts around the Moon will begin its dramatic journey to the launch pad.

The rollout for Artemis II kicks off no earlier than 7:00 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. IST) on January 17, 2026. The legendary Crawler-Transporter 2 – a massive, tank-like vehicle originally built for the Saturn V – will slowly haul the entire stack along a 4-mile path to Launch Pad 39B. Moving at roughly 1 mile per hour, the trek could last anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, weather and technical checks permitting.

This isn’t just hardware on the move – it’s history in motion. Artemis II will propel four pioneering astronauts – NASA’s Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) – on a 10-day voyage around the Moon. They’ll travel farther from Earth than any human since Apollo 17 in 1972, testing Orion’s deep-space capabilities, life support systems, navigation, and the harsh realities of crewed lunar flight.

The mission is a critical dress rehearsal for humanity’s return to the lunar surface. Building on the uncrewed Artemis I triumph in 2022, Artemis II clears the path for Artemis III – the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years, planned to include the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. The Artemis program aims for sustainable lunar exploration, scientific breakthroughs, new economic frontiers, and the eventual stepping stone to Mars.

NASA’s teams have been grinding through final preparations: retracting work platforms, fixing minor issues like valve adjustments and cable replacements, and ensuring every system is launch-ready. Once at the pad, a crucial “wet dress rehearsal” will load over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants and run a full countdown simulation. Launch windows open as early as February 6, 2026, with opportunities extending into April, depending on orbital mechanics, weather, and final readiness reviews.

Live coverage begins with NASA’s YouTube stream at rollout start, followed by a 9:00 a.m. ET media gaggle featuring NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the Artemis II crew. The same launch pads that once sent Apollo astronauts moonward now stand ready for a new generation.

As the crawler inches forward tomorrow, carrying the dreams of lunar bases, scientific outposts, and interplanetary ambition, the world will be watching. After decades of anticipation, the journey back to the Moon is rolling out – literally.

ClickUSA News will bring you live updates, expert analysis, and everything you need to know about this monumental step in space exploration. The Moon is calling – and we’re answering.

This report draws from official NASA announcements and mission updates as of January 17, 2026.

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