NASA’s second Space Launch System rocket, which will carry a team of four astronauts on the historic Artemis II mission around the Moon, has arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, set for September 2025, will mark the first time humans venture near the Moon since 1972.
The core stage, described as the backbone of the SLS rocket and the Artemis mission, was delivered to Kennedy after a weeklong trip from New Orleans. This core stage is essential for integrated tests and checkouts before the mission.
In the upcoming months, the rocket’s two solid rocket boosters will be stacked on NASA’s mobile launcher platform, along with the upper stage built by United Launch Alliance. The boosters, made by Northrop Grumman, consist of pre-packed solid propellant segments. Once all the components are in place, the core stage will be raised vertically between the boosters in preparation for the launch.
The Artemis II mission is part of NASA’s larger Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars. Each Artemis mission comes with a significant cost, with the SLS core stage accounting for a substantial portion of the expenses. The core stage for Artemis II is powered by RS-25 engines, some of which have flown on the space shuttle in the past.
According to Steve Wofford, who manages the stages office for the SLS program, the core stages for Artemis I and Artemis II are nearly identical, with minor differences in instrumentation. Lessons learned from Artemis I have been applied to the development of the core stage for Artemis II, reducing the need for extensive flight instrumentation.
As NASA moves closer to the launch of the Artemis II mission, the excitement and anticipation are palpable among agency officials and space enthusiasts. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon and beyond, marking a significant milestone in space exploration history.
