NASA Opens Doors: See Artemis II Moon Rocket & Orion Spacecraft in October

Media Notice – Kennedy Space Center
NASA invites journalists worldwide to inspect the fully assembled Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft this mid-October at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the crewed lunar test flight slated for next year.

This exclusive event highlights the Artemis II mission, the next major step in NASA’s lunar exploration strategy, featuring the powerful SLS (Space Launch System) and advanced Orion spacecraft. NASA experts and industry leaders will be available on-site for interviews.

Media Accreditation Deadlines

International media (non-U.S. citizens): Apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Monday, September 22, 2025.
U.S. media and U.S. citizens at international outlets: Apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Apply via NASA’s media portal at media.ksc.nasa.gov. Approved applicants will receive a confirmation email with specifics on the October visit schedule, once final dates are set. For details on media credentials, check NASA’s accreditation policy, or contact ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For general queries, call the Kennedy newsroom at (321) 867-2468.

Pre-Event Preparations

Prior to public viewing, the Orion spacecraft will move from the Launch Abort System Facility into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where it will be mounted atop the SLS booster. The fully stacked Artemis II vehicle will undergo comprehensive integrated testing and hardware finalizations, before rolling out to Launch Pad 39B. Technicians will verify communications systems, and crew members will conduct countdown rehearsals during the “countdown demonstration test.”

The Artemis II Mission

Scheduled as NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since Apollo, Artemis II will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon. This mission is a key milestone in NASA’s broader Artemis program, aiming to establish sustainable lunar exploration and pave the way for future missions — including the first human voyage to Mars.