NASA has rolled out the largest section of the Space Launch System rocket that will launch Artemis III in 2027.
The space agency says the rocket's core stage left its Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on 20 April 2026 for shipment to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Artemis II mission having only recently successfully concluded, many will see this as NASA driving home its commitment to its crewed spaceflight programme.
More on Artemis
Artemis III is NASA's next step to putting humans on the Moon.
While Artemis II saw four astronauts travel around the Moon and back, Artemis III will launch crew aboard the Orion spacecraft into low Earth orbit, where they'll test rendezvous and docking procedures between Orion and commercial spacecraft
NASA then intends to land a crew of astronauts on the Moon during Artemis IV, in the first half of 2028.
Artemis III roll-out
Specially-designed transporters took the top 80% of the Space Launch System core stage to NASA's designated barge, named Pegasus, for shipping to Kennedy Space Center.
Once it arrives at Kennedy, engineers will then complete the stage outfitting and vertical integration, stacking the rocket’s variation components in preparation for scheduled launch in 2027.
The completed core stage will stand 65m (212 feet) tall, consisting of the top four fifths of the rocket combined with the engine.
"Seeing this SLS rocket hardware roll out is a powerful reminder of our progress toward returning humans to the lunar surface," says Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
"This is the backbone of Artemis III. As it heads to Florida for final integration, we are one step closer to testing the critical capabilities needed to land Americans on the Moon, and ultimately, paving the way for our first crewed missions to Mars."
The completed core stage will host two tanks that will hold over 733,000 gallons rocket fuel.
When Artemis III launches, the fully integrated stage will blast for over 8 minutes, pushing the crew's Orion module into orbit around Earth.
The Artemis III crew will then practise docking manoeuvres in preparation for Artemis IV, which is scheduled to land humans on the Moon in 2028, for the first time since the Apollo programme.
