NASA Artemis II Rocket Rollout: A Slow Crawl Toward a 25,000 MPH Lunar Return
NASA's Artemis II rocket has moved to the launch pad, marking a historic step in the first human mission to the Moon in over 50 years. From 1 mph to 25,000 mph reentry.
It's the slowest movement for the fastest journey in human history. This weekend, the NASAArtemis II rocket took a massive step forward, rolling out to its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This move signals the final countdown for the first human flight to the Moon in over 50 years.
Artemis II: Critical Rollout Specs and Mission Profile
The massive rocket completed its 4-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B. The journey took 12 hours, with the crawler-transporter maintaining a top speed of just 1 mph. While the rollout was slow and steady, the mission's return will be anything but. Upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere after its 10-day tour of cislunar space, the Orion capsule will hit speeds exceeding 25,000 mph.
| Phase | Duration/Speed | Key Location |
|---|---|---|
| Rollout to Pad | 12 Hours / 1 mph | Launch Complex 39B |
| Lunar Orbit Tour | 10 Days | Cislunar Space |
| Atmospheric Entry | Over 25,000 mph | Earth Atmosphere |
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted the weight of the moment, stating, "This is the start of a very long journey. We ended our last human exploration of the moon on Apollo 17." The mission will carry a four-person crew, marking a pivotal bridge between the Apollo era and the future of sustainable lunar exploration.
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