NASAs aging crawler is about to haul 18 million pounds on its back, again

Mashable

February 25, 2026

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NASA's iconic crawler-transporter, built in 1965, is set to make another historic journey on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. This time, it will carry the massive Artemis II rocket, weighing an astonishing 18 million pounds, back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center for repairs and maintenance. The crawler, a tank-like vehicle resembling a baseball infield, has traversed over 2,500 miles in its lifetime, transporting iconic rockets like the Apollo's Saturn V. However, this mission is particularly challenging due to the rocket's weight exceeding the crawler's original design capacity by 50%. To handle the load, NASA upgraded one of its two crawlers with enhanced brakes, generators, and structural reinforcements, earning it the title of the heaviest self-powered vehicle from Guinness World Records. Despite its upgrades, the decades-old crawler faces significant wear and tear. Its treads, or "shoes," degrade quickly under such immense weight, requiring replacements after every trip. The Artemis II mission is critical for NASA's long-term lunar exploration goals. Originally designed to launch in March 2025, delays have pushed the timeline back, with potential launch windows in April 2026. The delay comes after engineers discovered a helium flow issue in the rocket's upper stage during its stay on the launchpad. Helium is essential for maintaining engine protection and fuel tank pressure, but the exact cause of the problem remains under investigation. NASA will broadcast the crawler's slow, 12-hour journey live on its YouTube channel, offering viewers a glimpse into this monumental operation. Once at the hangar, engineers will focus on installing platforms to address the helium issue, which also occurred before the Artemis I mission. The upcoming repairs and potential April launch are crucial for testing the Orion spaceship with humans aboard and paving the way for Artemis III's lunar landing. This mission marks NASA's first crewed flight beyond Earth orbit since

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Originally published on Mashable on 2/25/2026