# Space Launch System (SLS) Type: Technology Source: Space & Defense Intelligence Brief — https://getspacebrief.com/entity/space-launch-system-sls Canonical HTML page: https://getspacebrief.com/entity/space-launch-system-sls ## Timeline - **2027**: Artemis III Landing — Planned return of humans to the lunar surface. - **2027**: Artemis III Target — Planned mission to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. - **2027 (estimated)**: Artemis III — Planned mission to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. - **2026**: Targeted Artemis II Launch — First crewed mission of the Artemis program (Projected). - **2026**: Target Launch — Projected window for the Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby mission. - **2026-04**: Scheduled Launch — Artemis II set to launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. - **2026-04**: Artemis II Launch — First crewed flight of the Artemis program targeting lunar flyby. - **2026-Q2**: Wet Dress Rehearsal — Full propellant loading and countdown practice at the pad. - **2026-04-01**: Launch Window Opens — The earliest possible date for the Artemis mission launch. - **2026-04**: Artemis II Launch — First crewed flight of the SLS and Orion on a lunar flyby mission. - **2026-03-25**: Final Pad Checkouts — Engineers begin integrated testing of the rocket and ground systems. - **2026-03-20**: Artemis 2 Rollout — Rocket moves to Launch Pad 39B for final pre-flight testing. - **2026-03-20**: Rollout to Pad 39B — The SLS rocket leaves the VAB for the launch pad. - **2026-03-12**: Flight Clearance — NASA officially clears the rocket and spacecraft for crewed flight. - **2026-02-24**: One-Month Setback — NASA confirms a 30-day delay for the upcoming mission launch window. ## Recent coverage (8 stories) ### NASA Prepares for Artemis II: The First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years 2026-03-24 22:48:18 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 6 NASA is entering the final countdown for Artemis II, a historic mission scheduled for April 2026 that will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby. This mission serves as the critical bridge between the uncrewed Artemis I test and the eventual return of humans to the lunar surface. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/artemis-ii-lunar-mission-april-launch ### NASA Returns Repaired Artemis Rocket to Pad for Early April Launch 2026-03-20 13:14:47 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has successfully transported its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket back to Launch Pad 39B following critical repairs in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The move sets the stage for a high-stakes lunar mission window opening in early April, marking a pivotal moment for the Artemis program. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-sls-rollout-april-launch ### NASA Schedules Artemis 2 Rollout for March 20 as Crewed Lunar Flight Nears 2026-03-17 18:34:36 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has confirmed the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission will return to Launch Pad 39B on March 20. This move marks a critical transition from assembly to final pre-launch operations for the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-2-rollout-march-20 ### NASA Targets April 1 Launch for Artemis II: First Crewed Lunar Mission in 50 Years 2026-03-13 16:32:07 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has officially confirmed an April 1, 2026, launch target for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the lunar vicinity since the Apollo era. This 10-day mission will carry four astronauts on a high-stakes flyby to test life-support systems and deep-space navigation capabilities. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-april-launch-lunar-mission ### NASA Clears Artemis II Moon Rocket for April Launch Following Critical Repairs 2026-03-13 00:31:25 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 5 NASA has officially cleared the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for April 2026. This decision follows a rigorous period of repairs and testing to address technical anomalies discovered during the mission's preparation phase. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-april-launch-clearance ### NASA Rolls Artemis II Moon Rocket Back to VAB for Critical Repairs 2026-02-25 17:49:12 · Sentiment: Negative · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has initiated the rollback of the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) from Launch Pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building following the identification of technical issues requiring a controlled environment. This maneuver signals a potential shift in the launch window for the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-rollback-vab-repairs ### NASA Artemis Moon Mission Delayed: Launch Pushed Back One Month 2026-02-24 23:09:27 · Sentiment: Negative · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has officially delayed its upcoming lunar mission by approximately 30 days, marking the latest in a series of setbacks for the Artemis program. The delay underscores the persistent technical and logistical challenges of returning humans to the lunar surface. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-moon-mission-delay-february-2026 ### NASA’s Critical Fueling Test Sets the Stage for Artemis Lunar Return 2026-02-19 21:37:56 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has initiated its second major rocket fueling test for the Artemis program, a pivotal milestone that will dictate the launch window for the next crewed lunar mission. This technical validation is essential for ensuring the integrity of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the safety of the astronauts slated for the historic journey. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-fueling-test-lunar-mission --- This page is a machine-readable summary. Sentiment measures the directional read of each development for this entity, not the tone of the reporting; impact weights consequence, not syndication reach. See https://getspacebrief.com/guides/methodology for the full editorial methodology.