NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen through the windows of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as it rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center toward Launch Complex 39B for the first time on March 17, 2022.

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen through the windows of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as it rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center toward Launch Complex 39B for the first time on March 17, 2022. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA began rolling its Artemis 1 moon mission out to the launch pad for testing on March 17, 2022.

The agency's huge crawler-transporter 2 vehicle began transporting the Space Launch System rocket and capsule from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B at 5:47 pm. The time is 2147 GMT. The journey is expected to take about 11 hours.

It was a huge moment for NASA and its Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term, sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of the 2020s. Artemis 1 will send an uncrewed Orion on a roughly monthlong journey around the moon. It's expected in May or June.

The first time we got a good look at the SLS-Orion stack was during the historic roll out.

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There are 11 images, the first of which is image 2 of 11.

Media is seen documenting the opening of the doors to High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building before the mobile launcher with NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft aboard are rolled out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The Artemis 1 was a big event. The doors to High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are open to the media as the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are rolled out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time on March 17, 2022.

The Artemis 1 stack wasn't about to share the road with any other vehicles.

(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The Artemis 1 stack was not going to share the road with anyone.

The Artemis 1 stack inside the VAB shortly before their historic rollout on March 17, 2022.

(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky & Aubrey Gemignani)

The Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule that will fly NASA's Artemis-1 moon mission begin their 4-mile (6.4 kilometers) rollout to the launch pad for testing on March 17, 2022 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

(Image credit: NASA TV)

The Space Launch System rocket and capsule that will fly NASA's Artemis-1 moon mission begin their journey to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in March of 2022.

The Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule that will launch on NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission emerge from the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center during their rollout on March 17, 2022.

(Image credit: NASA TV)

The Artemis 1 SLS-Orion stack emerged from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks at the Artemis 1 rollout at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 17, 2022.

(Image credit: NASA TV)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke at the launch of Artemis 1 in Florida.

NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule on the move toward Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 17, 2022.

(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky))

The Statue of Liberty is slightly taller than the SLS-Orion stack.

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen through the windows of Firing Room One in the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time to Launch Complex 39B, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is where the Space Launch System rocket is being built.

The SLS-Orion stack are traveling with their specially built launch tower, known as Mobile Launcher-1.

(Image credit: Chelsea Gohd/Space.com)

The SLS-Orion stack is traveling with a launch tower.

The Artemis 1 stack is being hauled to the pad by NASA's crawler-transporter 2, one of the largest vehicles every built. CT-2 was constructed in 1965 to support NASA's Apollo moon program and has been modified over the past few years to serve Artemis.

(Image credit: Chelsea Gohd/Space.com)

The Artemis 1 stack is expected to arrive at Pad 39B in the predawn hours of March 18, 2022.

The Artemis 1 stack is being hauled to the pad by NASA's crawler-transporter 2, one of the largest vehicles every built. CT-2 was constructed in 1965 to support NASA's Apollo moon program and has been modified over the past few years to serve Artemis.

(Image credit: Chelsea Gohd/Space.com)

The Artemis 1 stack is being hauled to the pad by NASA's crawler-transporter 2, one of the largest vehicles every built. Over the past few years, the CT-2 has been modified to serve Artemis.

Kennedy Space CenterSpace Launch SystemNASA Kennedy SpaceNASA Space Launch
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