Artemis 1: Spacecraft to take Americans back to the moon makes it to the launchpad

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After a very slow journey that lasted almost 12 hours overnight, NASA’s new moon rocket and Orion spacecraft are on the pad Friday morning.

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Some time in the next two weeks, the rocket will be fueled up and go through what’s known as a wet dress rehearsal.

NASA said it plans to use the rehearsal data to determine when the Artemis 1 uncrewed mission around the moon will be possible.

READ: NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket to make first historic journey to the launch pad

Crew-1 astronaut Victor Glover is one of the NASA astronauts chosen for the Artemis team.

“Someone is going to get to say the words, “You’re go for translunar injection,” and that’s cool because we haven’t heard that in over five decades. So, it is truly special. It’s humbling. It’s an honor.”

READ: NASA offering to fly your name around the moon on Artemis I

The entire four-mile journey took about 11 hours overnight.

The crawler traveled at less than 1 mph.

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NASA has been hoping to launch the mission in May but that depends on the rehearsal.

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