Below is the journey of NASA's new rocket, Space Launch System (SLS), in chronological order from final assembly & prep in December 2021 through liftoff of SLS and the Artemis I mission in November 2022.
Space Launch System is seen being assembled inside high-bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building on December 20, 2021.
SLS is 322 ft tall- taller than the Statue of Liberty which stands at 305 ft tall.
Friends and family of the contractors that worked on the rocket were allowed to attend the rollout.
The NASA "Worm" logo is seen on the side of the booster.
Two crew rated vehicles (SpaceX Falcon 9 and NASA Space Launch System) are seen at the historic launch pads 39 A & B at the same time for the first time in 13 years in April 2022..
2nd SLS rollout June 6, 2022.
2nd SLS rollout June 6, 2022.
SLS & Orion viewed from the window of a bus transporting members of the media. August 27, 2022.
The famous countdown clock is seen on November 14, 2022 with SLS in the background. The clock is counting down to the scheduled launch time on November 16, 2022.
SLS is seen in the background with an Artemis flag waving in the wind in the foreground on November 14, 2022. SLS launched the Artemis 1 mission less than 48 hours later in the early morning of November 16, 2022
Ignition of Space Launch System on November 16, 2022.
Liftoff of NASA's Space Launch System on November 16, 2022.
