'World’s Most Powerful Rocket' Rolls Out Toward Launch Pad

Finally, after more than a decade of planning, designing, building, and testing, NASA’s Artemis I rocket, dubbed Space Launch System (SLS), began rolling out of its gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Thursday at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Destination: Launch Pad Complex 39B.

Jeremy Kariuki and Thom Patterson

Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 05:54 PM ET

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

Key Takeaways:

NASA's Artemis I rocket, Space Launch System (SLS), has rolled out to the launch pad, marking a significant step for the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
Artemis I will be an uncrewed test flight, sending the Orion spacecraft around the Moon to validate systems and procedures for future crewed missions.
The Artemis program, using the single-use SLS, aims to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface, serving as a critical testbed for technologies needed for eventual human missions to Mars.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (FLYING) — Finally, after more than a decade of planning, designing, building, and testing, NASA’s Artemis I rocket, dubbed Space Launch System (SLS), began rolling out of the gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Thursday at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Destination: Launch Complex 39B.

“Ladies and gentleman, the world’s most powerful rocket, right here,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson, speaking to crowds gathered not far from the slow-rolling spacecraft and crawler. “And it’s back to the moon and then on to Mars.”