NASA is about to unveil a major milestone in its ambitious Artemis program with the rollout of the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
This event, scheduled for mid-July, will take place at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the towering 210-foot core stage is mounted.
After deployment, the core stage will be carefully loaded onto NASA’s Pegasus ship for transport to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This event is critical in the lead-up to the Artemis II mission, which aims to return humans to the moon and ultimately establish a sustainable lunar presence.
NASA’s event details and media participation
The upcoming launch event is an excellent opportunity for media representatives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Artemis II preparations for missions. Participants will have the opportunity to capture high-quality photos and video footage of the impressive core stage as it is transferred to the Pegasus ship.
The event will also feature insightful comments from NASA and industry leaders, who will discuss the importance of the mission and the cutting-edge technology used. In addition, subject matter experts from NASA and its Artemis industry partners will be available for interviews, providing in-depth information and answering questions.
These interactions will provide journalists with a wealth of material for detailed reporting. Additional information regarding specific event timing and interview opportunities will be provided closer to the date. The event is open to both U.S. and international media, with an application deadline of June 14 for international media and July 3 for U.S. media. Interested media must adhere to NASA’s Media Reference Policy, which is available online.
NASA also shared the announcement on social media, highlighting the importance of the event:
Exciting news! @NASA will roll the fully assembled core stage for the #Artemis II @NASA_SLS rocket out #NASAMichoud mid-July. The 60-metre high stage will be loaded onto the agency’s Pegasus vessel for delivery to @NASAKennedy.
READ MORE >> https://t.co/JbNrUlJbGf
— NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) June 7, 2024
Significance of the Artemis II mission and the SLS rocket
The Artemis II mission marks a crucial step in NASA’s quest to explore deep space and establish a long-term human presence on the moon. The SLS rocket’s core stage, a technological marvel equipped with four RS-25 engines, will generate more than 2 million pounds of thrust.
This enormous power is essential for launching the Orion spacecraft and its crew of astronauts to the moon. Teams will hatch upon arrival at the Kennedy Space Center NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems program will complete the final equipment of the core stage. This complex process involves the integration of various components and systems that are essential to the rocket’s performance during launch. After this, the stage will undergo final preparations for stacking and integration with other elements of the launch system.
Scheduled for a September 2025 launch, Artemis II will be the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program. It will orbit the moon, test spacecraft systems and pave the way for future moon landings and deep space exploration.
Collaborative efforts in deep space exploration
The successful development, assembly and transport of the core stage underline the collaborative nature of this ambitious project. NASA has collaborated Boeingthe main contractor for the core phase, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company responsible for the RS-25 engines. This partnership is an example of the multidisciplinary approach needed to achieve the mission’s objectives.
The Artemis Campaign aims to land the first woman, the first person of color and the first international partner astronaut on the moon. These goals reflect NASA’s commitment to diversity and international cooperation in space exploration. The SLS missilewith its unrivaled power and capabilities, is central to this vision.
Designed to deliver the Orion spacecraft, astronauts and essential supplies to the moon in a single launch, the SLS is critical to the success of future missions. These missions include establishing a sustainable outpost on the moon and preparing for the eventual human exploration of Mars.