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. The 98-meter-tall rocket was moved vertically from the Vehicle Assembly Building on a 4-mile (6.5km) journey to the pad, a process that took almost 12 hours, according to BBC World.

The Artemis II spacecraft, designed to carry a crew of four astronauts around the moon, marks a significant step towards renewed lunar ambitions, according to NPR News. The mission is a precursor to landing American astronauts on the moon for the first time in over half a century.

The movement to the launch pad allows for final tests, checks, and a wet dress rehearsal to take place before the 10-day Artemis II mission can proceed, BBC World reported. Potential launch windows are projected to begin as early as February 6th, according to multiple news sources.

The Artemis program reflects a global resurgence of interest in space exploration, NPR News noted. The broader aim of the program is to establish a long-term presence on the moon to facilitate future Mars missions.

With the rocket now in position, the focus shifts to completing the necessary pre-flight procedures. The successful completion of these tests will pave the way for the Artemis II mission, a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to return humans to the Moon.