NASA's Artemis III Moon Rocket: Core Stage Preps for Launch

Top Summary

• What happened: NASA is moving the core stage of its SLS rocket, intended for the Artemis III mission, from New Orleans to Kennedy Space Center.
• Why it matters: The Artemis III mission aims to send astronauts to the Moon, paving the way for sustained lunar presence and future Mars missions.
• What changes for people: This marks a step closer to a 2027 launch, offering the prospect of renewed lunar exploration led by American astronauts.
• Who is affected: NASA, Boeing, L3Harris Technologies, American astronauts, and the global scientific community are all directly impacted.

SLS Core Stage Moves to Kennedy

NASA is transporting the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from its Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is a crucial step in preparing for the Artemis III mission.

The top four-fifths of the core stage, including the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks, will travel on the Pegasus barge.

Media Access to the Rollout

Media were invited to cover the rollout of the SLS core stage. They were able to capture images, hear from NASA and industry leaders, and interview experts.

U.S. media were required to apply by Wednesday, April 15. Registered media received confirmation and further details via email.

Completing the Rocket at Kennedy

Once at Kennedy Space Center, teams will complete the outfitting and vertical integration of the core stage.

The Exploration Ground Systems Program will then handle stacking and launch preparations.

Engine Integration and Artemis III Schedule

The Artemis III SLS engine section and boat-tail moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building in July 2025. The four RS-25 engines are scheduled to ship from Stennis Space Center no later than July 2026.

The rocket stage with its four RS-25 engines will provide over 2 million pounds of thrust for the Artemis III mission. The Artemis III launch is currently scheduled for 2027.

Collaborative Effort

Building and transporting the core stage is a joint effort between NASA, Boeing (the core stage lead contractor), and L3Harris Technologies (lead RS-25 engines contractor).

All five major structures for the rocket stage are manufactured at NASA Michoud.

Artemis III Mission Goals

The Artemis III mission will launch American astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft to Earth's orbit. They will test rendezvous and docking capabilities with commercial spacecraft.

 

"The SLS rocket is the only rocket capable of sending Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch."

 

Artemis III is the second crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program. The goal is to establish a lasting human presence on the lunar surface and prepare for crewed missions to Mars.

What to Watch Next

The focus will now shift to completing the integration of the core stage at Kennedy Space Center and shipping the RS-25 engines for installation. Monitoring the progress of these activities will be crucial to meeting the current 2027 launch target for Artemis III.