Artemis 2 Moon Rocket Stacked: See the SLS & Orion Together

Imagine seeing Earth rise over the lunar horizon for the first time in over 50 years. NASA's Artemis 2 mission is now one giant leap closer to returning humans to deep space. The Orion spacecraft, now fully stacked atop the massive SLS rocket, is preparing to carry four astronauts on a 10-day flight around the moon. This critical test flight will push the spacecraft's life-support and navigation systems to their limits, culminating in a fiery reentry protected by the largest heat shield ever built, withstanding speeds of nearly 25,000 mph. This mission is the foundational step toward establishing a sustained human presence on the moon and eventually sending crews to Mars. Its success will directly enable future projects like constructing the Gateway lunar space station and building infrastructure on the lunar surface.