Beneath the immense ceiling of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, a new icon of human spaceflight now stands complete. In a landmark operation completed on October 20, 2025, the Orion spacecraft for the historic Artemis II mission was carefully stacked atop the towering Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, marking a pivotal step toward a lunar voyage slated for early 2026.
This mating of spacecraft and rocket is more than a technical procedure; it is the physical embodiment of a decade of development and testing. The integrated stack, towering over 322 feet, represents the only rocket and spacecraft combination currently capable of sending astronauts on a journey to the Moon. The operation, which required immense precision from engineering teams, securely joined the crew module and its essential Launch Abort System to the mammoth SLS core stage and its solid rocket boosters. With this milestone achieved, the focus now shifts to a comprehensive series of integrated tests and checkouts within the high bay before the structure makes its slow, monumental journey to Launch Pad 39B.
The completed rocket will propel humanity’s first lunar crew in over half a century. Inside the Orion capsule will be NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (mission commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), alongside Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) from the Canadian Space Agency. Their 10-day mission will not land on the Moon but will boldly chart a path around it, validating all systems for future surface expeditions.
Following in the contrails of the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, Artemis II is the critical crewed proving ground. The four astronauts will become the first humans to travel to the vicinity of the Moon since 1972, pushing farther into space than any human has ever been. Their flight will rigorously test Orion’s life support, communication, and navigation systems with astronauts on board, ensuring every component is ready to support life in the deep space environment.
With the spacecraft now secured to its rocket, the tangible countdown to launch has begun. The sight of the fully assembled SLS and Orion is a powerful signal: after years of preparation, NASA and its international partners are on the verge of returning human eyes to the lunar horizon, paving the way for a sustained future of exploration at the Moon and, ultimately, Mars.
