NASA's mega Moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), arrived at its launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in preparation for the Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, according to the BBC. The 98-meter-tall rocket was transported vertically from the Vehicle Assembly Building over a 6.5-kilometer journey that took almost 12 hours, the BBC reported.

The Artemis II spacecraft, designed to carry a crew of four astronauts around the moon, marks a crucial step in the U.S.'s renewed lunar ambitions, according to NPR. This mission is a precursor to landing American astronauts on the moon for the first time in over half a century, with the broader aim of establishing a long-term presence to facilitate future Mars missions, reflecting a global resurgence of interest in space exploration, NPR reported.

With the rocket now in position, final tests, checks, and a dress rehearsal will take place before the go-ahead is given for the 10-day Artemis II mission, the BBC reported. NASA says the earliest the rocket can launch is yet to be determined.