NASA has moved its powerful new moon rocket to the launch pad as it prepares for the first crewed lunar fly-around in more than 50 years.

The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket slowly rolled out of Kennedy Space Center, a trip that took most of the day. Thousands of NASA workers and families gathered to watch the milestone moment.

This mission will carry four astronauts around the moon and back on a 10-day journey, possibly launching as early as February. The crew includes three NASA astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch and one Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen.

Earlier technical problems delayed this mission for years. While the astronauts will not land on the moon, this flight is a key step toward future lunar landings planned later in the Artemis program.

NASA will conduct a crucial fueling test in early February before setting an official launch date.

There is only a short launch window in February before the mission will be delayed until March. If successful, this will be the first time humans have travelled to the moon since 1972.