As NASA prepares for the wet dress rehearsal of its Artemis II moon rocket and capsule, many are noticing similarities between the cold temperatures this week and how they played a part in the demise of the space shuttle Challenger and its crew 40 years ago.

NASA is planning the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for a 10-day mission, named Artemis II, around the Moon. The crew includes four members, and the mission is set to travel around the Moon and back to validate hardware and systems in a deep space environment.

The towering Space Launch System rocket for NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission is about to leave the hangar and begin its slow crawl toward the Florida coast. As the Artemis II stack prepares to roll out to the launch pad,

Floridians may now be able to spot the towering Space Launch System rocket, which will propel four astronauts on a journey around the moon.

The upcoming Artemis II mission will see NASA's spacecraft carrying four astronauts around the moon. This mission aims to surpass Apollo 13's distance record, focusing on safety and critical system tests without landing on the lunar surface.

Artemis II launch prep update

Back in 2024, Lego delivered an excellent (and huge) Icons model of the NASA Artemis Space Launch System. With a price tag of $260, a footprint of 10 x 11-inches and a height of 27.5-inches, however, not everyone has the budget or space to accommodate it. For those people, enter the brand new Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket.