NASA is preparing for its Artemis II mission to the moon, which will mark the first crewed lunar trip since the 1970s. On July 16, 2024, NASA took a significant step towards this goal by rolling out the core stage of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East. The core stage, built by Boeing and measuring 212 feet long, is the backbone of the SLS rocket and will be integrated with other elements at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for launch.
The Artemis II mission aims to carry four astronauts around the moon. NASA's SLS rocket is capable of carrying a crew and large cargo into deep space in a single launch, making it an essential component of the Artemis program. The core stage was moved from Michoud Assembly Facility to Kennedy Space Center on a Pegasus barge.
Historically, NASA has landed astronauts on the moon 12 times between 1969 and 1972. With the Artemis missions, NASA plans to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon.
The core stage was built at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Boeing manufactured it while Lockheed Martin constructed the Orion crew module that will carry four astronauts to orbit. The Artemis II mission is expected to launch in 2025.
NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, located in New Orleans East, has a rich history of space exploration achievements. It was instrumental in the development and assembly of the Saturn V rockets that powered NASA's Apollo missions to the moon. The facility is also currently involved in producing components for NASA's Artemis program.
The core stage rollout marks an important milestone for NASA as it continues its preparations for the Artemis II mission. The next steps include integrating the core stage with other elements of the rocket and conducting pre-launch tests at Kennedy Space Center.
