Artemis II Core Stage Heading to NASA
Will Launch First Humans Around the Moon Since Apollo
The core stage for the Artemis II rocket, which is slated to take humans on a lunar orbital mission, is heading to Florida. The mission will be the first to take people into lunar orbit since the Apollo program 50 years ago.
“The SLS rocket is a key component of our efforts to develop a long-term presence at the Moon.”
Catherine Koerner, NASA
The rocket stage, built by Boeing at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, is the largest component of the Artemis II mission. It has been loaded onto NASA's Pegasus barge and transported 900 miles to the Kennedy Space Center. Once there, it will be integrated with the other Artemis II components, including the upper stage, solid rocket boosters, and NASA's Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. This integration is a crucial step in preparation for the Artemis II launch, scheduled for 2025.
"Boeing-built products helped land humankind on the moon in 1969, and we're proud to continue that legacy through the Artemis generation," said Dave Dutcher, vice president and program manager for Boeing's SLS program. "Together, with NASA and our industry partners and suppliers, we are building the world's most capable rocket and paving the way to deep space through America's rocket factory in New Orleans."
The delivery of Core Stage 2 signifies a major achievement in the development of the SLS rocket. This core stage, measuring over 200 feet tall and powered by four RS-25 engines, alongside two solid-fueled booster rockets, will provide the 8.8 million pounds of necessary thrust to propel Artemis II and future missions into space.
“With Artemis, we’ve set our sights on doing something big and incredibly complex that will inspire a new generation, advance our scientific endeavors, and move U.S. competitiveness forward,” said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The SLS rocket is a key component of our efforts to develop a long-term presence at the Moon.”
SLS is the only rocket capable of carrying crew and large cargo to the moon and beyond in a single launch. It is designed to deliver human-rated spacecraft, habitats, and science missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.