NASA Rolls Out Second Core Stage for Artemis 2 Mission

NASA took a significant step forward in its Artemis program as the second core stage for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket rolled out of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The stage is now set to be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, marking a pivotal transition from manufacturing to launch readiness for the Artemis 2 mission scheduled for next year.

The core stage, constructed at the Michoud Assembly Facility, made its way from the manufacturing site to the Pegasus barge moored nearby. The Pegasus barge will transport the stage to KSC, where it will undergo additional preparations for the Artemis 2 mission.

“The delivery of the SLS core stage for Artemis 2 to Kennedy Space Center signals a shift from manufacturing to launch readiness as teams continue to make progress on hardware for all major elements for future SLS rockets,” - John Honeycutt, NASA SLS Program Manager

Upon arrival at KSC, the largely complete stage will undergo further outfitting. It will then be integrated with its two solid rocket boosters and the interim cryogenic upper stage inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. The final assembly will include attaching the Orion spacecraft, with the mission currently scheduled for launch no earlier than September 2025.

“This is our second one and there are a lot of lessons learned. It’s a much cleaner vehicle throughout the build and test than the first one,” - Dave Dutcher, SLS Program Manager at Boeing

Boeing has fully implemented lean manufacturing principles to optimize production and supply chain management. This approach includes eliminating duplicate testing of items and streamlining clean room procedures.

“We’re constantly looking at where’s the waste in that build...We’ve also learned along the way that the most effective way to build this vehicle is doing as much as we can in the vertical,” - Dave Dutcher, SLS Program Manager at Boeing

The experience gained from building the Artemis 2 core stage has also led to improvements in sequencing work and addressing supply chain challenges. Some parts did not arrive in the preferred order for Artemis 2, but for the Artemis 3 core stage,

“more of our hardware is coming in in the right sequence.” - Dave Dutcher, SLS Program Manager at Boeing

Looking ahead, Boeing and NASA plan to conduct more final assembly work for future core stages at KSC, beginning with Artemis 3. This includes constructing the engine section in a clean room and performing more vertical assembly.

“That’s a tremendous amount of time savings with just those two examples,” - Dave Dutcher, SLS Program Manager at Boeing

As NASA and its partners continue to refine their processes, the rollout of the second SLS core stage marks a significant milestone in the journey to return humans to the Moon and eventually explore Mars under the Artemis program.