Author Topic: ML-2 Updates and Discussion  (Read 117712 times)

Online catdlr

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #100 on: 08/10/2025 11:53 am »
Phillip Sloss's weekly report provides an update on ML-2 and a time-lapse of the construction.

Timestamp
17:37 Mobile Launcher-2 news and pictures of recent work from Bechtel

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62717.msg2707654#msg2707654
It's Tony De La Rosa... I don't create this stuff; I just report it.  I also cover launches and trim post (Tony TrimmerHand).

Online catdlr

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #101 on: 08/24/2025 07:43 pm »
Cross Post

Phillip Sloss's weekly report provides an update on ML-2 construction.

Timestamp
17:32 Bechtel provides imagery of Mobile Launcher-2 construction during the 1st half of 2025

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58223.msg2711476#msg2711476
It's Tony De La Rosa... I don't create this stuff; I just report it.  I also cover launches and trim post (Tony TrimmerHand).

Offline maquinsa

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #102 on: 10/14/2025 04:18 am »
Some film pictures from my visit October 4th. ISO 200 Kodak on an old Canon EOS300

Offline woods170

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #103 on: 10/14/2025 07:21 am »
Some film pictures from my visit October 4th. ISO 200 Kodak on an old Canon EOS300

Film grain!  ;D   And lot's of it I might add. But that's the "charm" of old-skool photography.
« Last Edit: 10/14/2025 07:22 am by woods170 »

Offline maquinsa

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #104 on: 10/15/2025 01:37 am »
Some film pictures from my visit October 4th. ISO 200 Kodak on an old Canon EOS300

Film grain!  ;D   And lot's of it I might add. But that's the "charm" of old-skool photography.

Still learning! The light sensor in the camera is kind of messed up so I have to figure it out as I go! Final goal is capturing Artemis II, the first Starship Catch and next year's eclipse, I am really going for that old Sarurn V pictures vibe
« Last Edit: 10/15/2025 01:41 am by maquinsa »

Offline pochimax

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #105 on: 12/08/2025 08:44 am »
paywalled but interesting

NASA partner to lay off dozens of Kennedy Space Center employees as project winds down
https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/11/14/bechtel-national-kennedy-space-center-nasa-layoffs.html
Nov 14, 2025

Quote
Bechtel is winding down its workforce at Kennedy Space Center as the Mobile Launcher 2 project approaches completion, with layoffs scheduled to happen in phases over several months starting in January 2026.

Asking IA it says:

Quote
Bechtel, a key NASA partner, is laying off around 60 employees at Kennedy Space Center starting January 2026 as work shifts from peak construction to testing for NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML-2) for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket

Online catdlr

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #106 on: 12/20/2025 09:47 pm »
Two video posts:

https://twitter.com/ENNEPS/status/2002441712795595237

Quote
Elisar Priel
@ENNEPS
·

It was another Artemis day at KSC, as the crew access arm was lifted and installed in place on the ML-2, meanwhile, the crew of the Artemis II mission drove past the
@NASASpaceflight
 cameras on their way to the VAB for a countdown demonstration test.
It's Tony De La Rosa... I don't create this stuff; I just report it.  I also cover launches and trim post (Tony TrimmerHand).

Offline cplchanb

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #107 on: 12/22/2025 01:40 pm »
paywalled but interesting

NASA partner to lay off dozens of Kennedy Space Center employees as project winds down
https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/11/14/bechtel-national-kennedy-space-center-nasa-layoffs.html
Nov 14, 2025

Quote
Bechtel is winding down its workforce at Kennedy Space Center as the Mobile Launcher 2 project approaches completion, with layoffs scheduled to happen in phases over several months starting in January 2026.

Asking IA it says:

Quote
Bechtel, a key NASA partner, is laying off around 60 employees at Kennedy Space Center starting January 2026 as work shifts from peak construction to testing for NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML-2) for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket

It really feels quite ironic that we were bemoaning the scheduling delays of ML-2 but now that its actually wrapping up construction soon, it seems like mission hardware is in fact the actual gatekeeper to the overall schedule.....

Offline woods170

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Re: ML-2 Updates and Discussion
« Reply #108 on: 12/23/2025 03:07 pm »
paywalled but interesting

NASA partner to lay off dozens of Kennedy Space Center employees as project winds down
https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/11/14/bechtel-national-kennedy-space-center-nasa-layoffs.html
Nov 14, 2025

Quote
Bechtel is winding down its workforce at Kennedy Space Center as the Mobile Launcher 2 project approaches completion, with layoffs scheduled to happen in phases over several months starting in January 2026.

Asking IA it says:

Quote
Bechtel, a key NASA partner, is laying off around 60 employees at Kennedy Space Center starting January 2026 as work shifts from peak construction to testing for NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML-2) for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket

It really feels quite ironic that we were bemoaning the scheduling delays of ML-2 but now that its actually wrapping up construction soon, it seems like mission hardware is in fact the actual gatekeeper to the overall schedule.....

"Seems" being the correct word here.

ML2 will be going thru a lot of basic electrical and fluid checks before the contractor turns it over to NASA in late 2026. And then the real fun begins: The Verification and Validation Phase, which will take another 20 to 24 months.
So, by the time ML2 is ready to actually support a vehicle stacking campaign, it will be NET late 2028/early 2029.

Offline pochimax

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