10 out of 10! 🙌This week, teams with Exploration Ground Systems stacked the right forward segment, the tenth motor segment of the @NASA_SLS solid rocket boosters. The stacked segments are nearing their final height of 177ft tall.To complete booster stacking, teams will stack the forward assemblies, which were transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building in January.
Feb 17, 20252025-02-17 – CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons, along with the rest of their Artemis II crewmates, had the chance to view segments of the SLS rocket, as well as the Orion capsule that will take the prime crew around the Moon. Jeremy shares his excitement live from the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
With stacking of the forward assemblies, or nose cones, complete, the last segments have been integrated to complete the booster configuration. Each forward assembly contains an aerodynamic top, a forward skirt housing avionics, and frustum housing motors that allow the boosters to separate from the SLS core stage after launch.In total, 10 segments — five segments per booster – were transported from Kennedy’s Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, where they underwent processing after arriving by train in September 2023 from Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing facility in Utah, to the VAB for stacking operations. Engineers will integrate the SLS core stage, currently undergoing processing in the VAB’s High Bay 2, in the coming weeks.
Scott Schilke@SchilkeScottVideo inside the #NASA #VAB from the 5th & 16th floors during todays media #Artemis II morning with twin fully stacked #NorthropGrumman SRB's in Highbay #3 and the center core still at Highbay #2 ! Three photos from Dec. 16th 2024 with #astronauts Highbay #2 🇺🇲@LiveStormChaser
Over the weekend, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) for the @NASAArtemis II mission arrived at @NASAKennedy! Teams delivered the stage to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility from United Launch Alliance’s Delta Operations Center at neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Read more about the ICPS here: https://go.nasa.gov/3FdUkzU
After United Launch Alliance transported the @NASAArtemis II interim cryogenic propulsion stage to @NASAKennedy, teams passed the baton to Exploration Ground Systems, officially handing over the hardware.The 45-foot-tall stage will provide in-space propulsion after the @NASA_SLS solid rocket boosters and core stage are jettisoned and give @NASA_Orion the big push needed to fly beyond the Moon before the spacecraft returns to Earth.
To prepare for stacking, teams lifted the @NASA_SLS core stage for the crewed @NASAArtemis II mission out of the Vehicle Assembly Building’s High Bay 2 and positioned it horizontally in the transfer aisle.Read more about this operation here: https://go.nasa.gov/3R9yfoD
We're rolling! 🎥Exploration Ground Systems teams are preparing to stack the @NASAArtemis II @NASA_SLS core stage onto mobile launcher 1.Teams repositioned the core stage using self-propelled modular transporters to roll it in front of the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 3. Teams have also been staging platforms in the high bay, preparing the cranes for lifting, and ensuring the boosters are ready to receive the core stage.
Over the weekend, Exploration Ground Systems teams stacked the @NASA_SLS core stage for the crewed @NASAArtemis II mission! Read more about this operation here: https://go.nasa.gov/4hGlkFB
After moving the @NASA_SLS core stage north in the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle, teams began lifting it with two of the facility’s overhead cranes, reorienting it into a vertical position. This is called a “breakover.”
Alley-oop!Teams continued to lift the @NASAArtemis II @NASA_SLS core stage in the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle. To cross into the high bay, core stage must clear the 16th level of the building, approximately 190 feet high. Then, teams moved it laterally into High Bay 3 over mobile launcher 1.
Need a boost? 🚀Teams lowered the @NASAArtemis II @NASA_SLS core stage onto mobile launcher 1 between the twin solid rocket boosters. The weight of the core stage is supported by the boosters, attaching with struts at several points. These struts that connect the hardware are also designed to release the spent boosters during flight.
Cross-post to Phillip Sloss' weekly video report on Atriums II
🔌Powered up!⚡ Last week, Exploration Ground Systems teams powered up the @NASAArtemisII @NASA_SLS core stage and solid rocket boosters for the first time. Teams in @NASAKennedy’s Launch Control Center verified the systems and interfaces function between the flight hardware and ground systems, including the engine and booster thrust control systems.
Power up complete! Teams powered up the @NASAArtemis SLS rocket core stage and solid rocket boosters inside the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time last week. The test verified the interfaces across the core stage, boosters and ground systems function properly.Read more about our integrated testing here: https://go.nasa.gov/43uSG6G
SLS will continue development for the Artemis II and III missions with current target Launch Readiness Dates of no later than April 2026 for Artemis II
Final Artemis II vehicle integration is planned with Orion integration onto SLS in the VAB. Following final integration of Orion onto SLS in the VAB, the fully assembled vehicle will undergo final testing and preparation for launch. A tanking test at Pad 39B will be used test out updated tanking procedures, the integrated tanking system, and the new Pad B liquid hydrogen sphere.
For the Artemis II launch, EGS will conduct the rollout for the tanking test, landing and recovery operations, post launch operations at the pad, and crew module de-servicing at the Multi-Payload Processing Facility. EGS will support the Orion and SLS integration scheduled for October 2025 to prepare for the fully stacked roll to pad tanking test. Following this test, the emergency egress demo will occur with the crew before the terminal countdown demonstration test occurs in the LCC.
This week, Exploration Ground Systems teams completed the @NASAArtemis II core stage Program Specific Engineering Test. This test verified avionics boxes and their functions, main propulsion systems for the RS-25 engines, auxiliary power units, and more.Read more about our integrated testing here: https://go.nasa.gov/43uSG6G
✅Checking the boxes. Teams with the Exploration Ground Systems Program completed successful engineering tests on the SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Artemis II test flight. The milestone marks the rocket and ground systems are working and communicating as planned. https://go.nasa.gov/43rMHxW
Halfway there! Teams with the Exploration Ground Systems Program completed testing of the SLS upper stage for NASA's Artemis II mission. The testing ensured the rocket's upper stage communicates with the other parts of the rocket and ground systems during launch. https://go.nasa.gov/43rMHxW
NASA Marshall@NASA_MarshallThe final piece of the SLS rocket for @NASAArtemis II is on its way to @NASAKennedy!Built here at #NASAMarshall, the Orion stage adapter connects the upper stage of the rocket to the Orion spacecraft. Read more about the important role it plays >> https://go.nasa.gov/45LWjoJ
QuoteNASA Marshall@NASA_MarshallThe final piece of the SLS rocket for @NASAArtemis II is on its way to @NASAKennedy!Built here at #NASAMarshall, the Orion stage adapter connects the upper stage of the rocket to the Orion spacecraft. Read more about the important role it plays >> https://go.nasa.gov/45LWjoJhttps://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall/status/1957924929447366732
From @NASA_Marshall to @NASAKennedy.The final piece of the rocket for NASA's Artemis II mission has arrived in Florida.The Orion stage adapter, used to connect the SLS upper stage to the Orion spacecraft, will soon be stacked on the rocket.Up next: https://go.nasa.gov/4lFdEFw
Engineers have incorporated additional improvements based on lessons learned from Artemis I. During the Artemis I test flight the SLS rocket experienced higher-than-expected vibrations near the solid rocket booster attachment points that was caused by unsteady airflow.To steady the airflow, a pair of six-foot-long strakes flanking each booster’s forward connection points on the SLS intertank will smooth vibrations induced by airflow during ascent, and the rocket’s electronics system was requalified to endure higher levels of vibrations.Engineers updated the core stage power distribution control unit, mounted in the intertank, which controls power to the rocket’s other electronics and protects against electrical hazards.
Smooth ride ahead! 🚀@NASAAmes used cutting-edge supercomputers and wind tunnel testing to improve the SLS rocket for Artemis II, the first crewed mission around the Moon. Explore how this technique is helping engineers design safer and more efficient structures, while accurately predicting how vehicles respond to stress >> https://go.nasa.gov/3KaXlmT
The four astronauts of Artemis II, which will lift off to fly around the Moon in early 2026, are sharing updates on the mission and taking questions from media.
In this news conference, leaders in the Artemis program and Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will discuss the science of the mission and answer questions from the media. The participants include: • Matt Ramsey, Artemis II mission manager, NASA Headquarters • Debbie Korth, deputy Orion Program manager, NASA Johnson • Jacob Bleacher, manager, Science, Technology Utilization, and Integration, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters • Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
In this news conference, leaders in the Artemis program will discuss the mission and answer questions from the media. The participants include: • Lakiesha Hawkins, acting deputy associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters • Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center • Judd Frieling, lead Artemis II ascent flight director, NASA Johnson • Jeff Radigan, lead Artemis II flight director, NASA Johnson • Rick Henfling, lead Artemis II entry flight director, NASA Johnson • Daniel Florez, test director, Exploration Ground Systems, NASA Kennedy
In a move signifying mission readiness, NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team recently joined and connected the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-developed Orion spacecraft with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the upcoming Artemis II mission.The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by its astronaut crew, was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center where it was lifted atop the SLS rocket in High Bay 3 on Oct. 19. This marks a major milestone for the Artemis II mission as NASA and industry work toward a historic launch to the Moon with four astronauts early next year."Integration of SLS and Orion represents a major milestone in our progress on Artemis," said Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. "Soon, we will be launching four astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over half a century on Artemis II — the latest demonstration of American dominance in space."Following the mating, teams will make electrical and data connections between Orion and SLS, along with umbilical connections from the mobile launch platform to the spacecraft. EGS will conduct integrated tests of Orion and SLS before they are rolled out to Launch Pad 39B for a wet dress rehearsal next year."The full stack of Orion on the SLS is a truly spectacular sight," said Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space. "Our teams have been working tirelessly to finalize these last steps and ensure Orion takes the crew to the Moon and brings them home safely."The first crewed flight of the Artemis program is set to launch no earlier than February 2026, with potential launch windows extending through April 2026. The mission will be 10 days and is a key event to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for exploration and science.Orion is the most advanced, human-rated, deep space spacecraft ever developed. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for Orion and built the crew module, crew module adaptor and launch abort system.
