Moon mission moves closer as NASA prepares to roll out its 30-storey-tall Artemis II rocket

Technicians from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team ready a crane to lift and secure the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket inside High Bay 3 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, ahead of the Artemis II mission. (Image: NASA)

NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, marking a major step toward crewed lunar travel with the rocket’s rollout in January 2026. At the same time, the agency has rejected online rumours claiming Earth will lose gravity during the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse. NASA clarified that gravity depends on Earth’s mass and cannot suddenly change, stressing the eclipse poses no risk.

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For the first time in decades, preparations for a crewed lunar mission are moving visibly forward, as NASA confirmed that its Artemis II rocket will begin rollout on January 17, 2026, while also dismissing online claims about Earth losing gravity later that year.

The US space agency said the Space Launch System rocket will travel 6.4 kilometres from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, marking a key step toward returning humans to lunar orbit. The rollout signals renewed momentum in crewed exploration beyond low Earth orbit, following more than fifty years without astronauts travelling near the Moon.

Artemis II mission and crew preparations

Artemis II is designed to carry four astronauts around the Moon without landing. The mission will test spacecraft systems, crew operations, and deep space navigation under real flight conditions. Officials say the rollout confirms confidence in hardware readiness and mission planning.

The four astronauts assigned to Artemis II have trained extensively for launch operations, emergency procedures, and long-duration spaceflight. Each crew member has specific responsibilities covering spacecraft systems, navigation monitoring, communications management, and safety oversight during the lunar flyby. NASA has said the mission will provide critical data before future lunar landings.

Rumours about gravity loss addressed by NASA

Alongside the Artemis announcement, NASA addressed online claims suggesting Earth could lose gravity in 2026. The agency said such assertions are scientifically impossible under current physical laws. Officials stressed that Earth’s gravity depends entirely on planetary mass, which remains unchanged.

Searches across major platforms, including Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Facebook, and X, found no credible evidence supporting claims linked to a supposed “Project Anchor”. NASA said no such project exists, and no data has been withheld from the public.

What will actually happen on August 12, 2026

NASA confirmed a total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. The eclipse will be visible from parts of the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. Scientists say the event is predictable and harmless.

The rumour appears to have originated from a December 31, 2025, Instagram post, which claimed NASA concealed gravity changes. The account was later removed, and no supporting evidence emerged.

NASA officials said the eclipse and Artemis mission are unrelated, urging the public to rely on verified scientific sources as humanity prepares once again for lunar exploration.