Advancements in NASA’s Artemis II Core Stage Assembly

NASA, in collaboration with Aerojet Rocketdyne and Boeing, has reached a significant milestone in the development of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II mission, which aims to achieve a historic lunar landing with the first woman and person of color. This achievement comes as engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans complete the installation of all four RS-25 engines onto the SLS core stage.

The core stage, a striking yellow structure, is currently in the final assembly area at Michoud, positioned horizontally. The arrangement of the RS-25 engines at the base of the rocket stage resembles the legs of a table, forming a square pattern. This core stage is vital to the SLS mega-rocket, which will play a pivotal role in powering the Artemis II mission, marking NASA’s first crewed voyage to the Moon under the Artemis program.

Key to this accomplishment has been the collaborative effort between NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, and Boeing, the core stage lead contractor. Their combined expertise has culminated in the successful integration of the RS-25 engines onto the core stage. These engines are considered “soft” mated to the rocket stage, and the next phase involves fully securing the engines and integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure.

NASA’s commitment to efficiency is evident in the lessons learned from the initial build and assembly of the SLS core stage for Artemis I, which have been applied to enhance manufacturing processes and cross-team collaboration for Artemis II. This dedication to continuous improvement ensures that the SLS rocket is prepared to support the upcoming mission.

With all four RS-25 engines now in place, engineers have initiated final integration testing at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. These tests are a crucial step in preparing the core stage for acceptance ahead of its shipment to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the coming months.

The core stage’s structural and technical aspects are notable, comprising two massive liquid propellant tanks and the four RS-25 engines at its base. During the Artemis II mission, this core stage will serve as the powerhouse of the rocket, generating over two million pounds of thrust for the initial eight minutes of flight, propelling a crew of four astronauts within NASA’s Orion spacecraft on a mission lasting approximately ten days around the Moon.

As engineers progress with the core stage for Artemis II, construction is concurrently underway for subsequent Artemis missions (III, IV, and V) that will contribute to NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration goals.

With this significant step forward, NASA is edging closer to its objective of landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program. The SLS, along with the Orion spacecraft and the Gateway in lunar orbit, is a fundamental component of NASA’s deep space exploration strategy, enabling the agency to send astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission—a testament to the advancements in space exploration technology.

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More about Lunar Exploration Milestone

• NASA’s Artemis Program
• Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket
• RS-25 Engines
• Artemis II Mission Overview
• Michoud Assembly Facility
• Kennedy Space Center
• Deep Space Exploration
• NASA’s Orion Spacecraft
• Gateway Lunar Orbit
• Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Boeing