NASA’s SLS Rollout

Moments in time from an historic day at the Kennedy Space Center.

Friday, March 18, 2022 at 02:09 PM ET

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Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis I launch director, looks out the windows of Firing Room One of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop a mobile launcher rolls out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time to Launch Complex 39B. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's Artemis I rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), successfully rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to its launch pad.
This significant event occurred after more than a decade of planning, designing, building, and testing.
The article features images from the historic day, showcasing the rocket and its Orion spacecraft moving to Launch Complex 39B.

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After more than a decade of planning, designing, building, and testing, NASA’s Artemis I rocket, dubbed Space Launch System (SLS), rolled out of the gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Thursday and made its way to the launch pad.

Check out some images from that historic day.

The mobile launcher with NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft aboard is seen inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. [Photo: Jeremy Kariuki]

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time. [Courtesy: NASA]

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen through the windows of Firing Room One in the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time to Launch Complex 39B. [Courtesy: NASA]

Invited guests and NASA employees take photos as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is rolled out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time. [Courtesy: NASA]

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B. [Courtesy: NASA]

The 322-foot Artemis I slowly moves on a crawler-transporter Thursday, toward its launch pad, about 4 miles away. [Photo: Jeremy Kariuki]

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen illuminated by spotlights atop a mobile launcher. [Courtesy: NASA]