NASA rocket taller than Big Ben reaches launch pad after 11-hour journey from hanger

The rocket was transported upright for four miles, on the back of a Crawler Transporter 2.

The rocket measures taller than Big Ben, while the transporter weighs 3 million kilograms and it approximately half the size of a football pitch.

The transporter burned a litre of diesel every 3.5metres of the short trip.

Artemis 2 is scheduled for lift-off in February.

Read More: Mother suing TikTok over death of son says hearing was 'deeply painful'

The rocket will transport four astronauts around the moon for the first time in 50 years.

Next, the Artemis 3 plans to land NASA astronauts on the moon's surface.

As the rocket was transported, the four astronauts said what they planned on taking into space with them.

Mission commander Reid Wiseman said he has a blank piece of paper and a pen and pencil:

"I can't wait to write some thoughts on that. I don't know what to expect, and I don't want to go in with any preconceived notions."

Mission pilot Victor Glover will take his Bible with him and an heirloom from each of his daughters and his wife.

Mission specialist Christina Koch said: "For me, it's handwritten notes from people I love."

"The idea I can hold in my hands way out there something that they held in their hands. It's really special to me," she added.

Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen said he has put four moon pendants worn by his wife and children on to the rocket.

The Artemis rocket is 15% more powerful than the Saturn V that launched the Apollo missions.

The rocket boats 8.8 million pounds of thrust - the same as 28 jumbo jets.

Due to its enormous size, the vehicle will need to reach 24,000mph to exit the Earth's gravity.