NASA moved the core stage of its second Space Launch System rocket to Kennedy Space Center. This is a crucial step for the Artemis II mission to send astronauts around the Moon.

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Late on a Saturday night at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians successfully maneuvered the core stage for NASA’s second Space Launch System rocket into place between the vehicle’s two solid-fueled boosters. This significant operation took place inside the monumental 52-story-tall Vehicle Assembly Building, where ground teams utilized heavy-duty cranes to carefully lift the prominent butterscotch orange core stage from its cradle in the VAB’s vast transfer aisle.

The cranes performed a pivotal rotation of the structure, allowing workers to disconnect one of them from the bottom of the rocket, leaving it suspended on a robust 325-ton overhead crane. This crane then hoisted the core stage over the transom into the building’s northeast high bay. The massive core stage, constructed by Boeing, weighs approximately 94 tons (85 metric tons), stands at a towering height of around 212 feet (65 meters), and will house a staggering 730,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant during liftoff. This core stage represents the most substantial component for NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission, poised to transport a team of astronauts around the far side of the Moon in the near future.

Subsequently, ground crews meticulously lowered the rocket between the Space Launch System’s two solid rocket boosters, which had already been assembled on a mobile launch platform inside High Bay 3. This area holds historical significance as it used to be the site where NASA built Space Shuttles and Saturn V rockets for the Apollo lunar missions.

The following day, teams within the VAB diligently connected the core stage to each booster at forward and aft load-bearing attach points. These connections were followed by the completion of intricate electrical and data linkages. The engineers proceeded to stack a cone-shaped adapter atop the core stage, subsequently installing the rocket’s upper stage, another adapter ring, and ultimately securing the Orion spacecraft. The Orion spacecraft will serve as the habitat for the four-person crew of the Artemis II mission throughout their 10-day odyssey through the depths of space.

The upcoming Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone as it represents the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program. This groundbreaking program aims to achieve the momentous feat of landing astronauts on the lunar south pole and establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Additionally, the program sets its sights on paving the way for future expeditions to Mars. The Artemis III mission, which will be the first crewed lunar landing, is scheduled to utilize both the SLS and Orion spacecraft, supplemented by SpaceX’s colossal Starship rocket as a human-rated lunar lander. While Artemis II will not involve a lunar landing, it will mark a historical event by transporting individuals to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time since 1972.

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