Tag: artemis II, NASA, SLS, space launch system, RS-25 engines, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing
All four RS-25 engines have been successfully integrated into the core stage of NASA’s Artemis II Moon rocket at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. This milestone marks the initiation of NASA’s inaugural crewed mission under the Artemis program.
The process commenced on September 11th when technicians affixed the initial engine to the core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Subsequently, the second engine was attached on September 15th, followed by the third and fourth engines on September 19th and September 20th, respectively. The collaborative efforts of NASA technicians, Aerojet Rocketdyne (an L3Harris Technologies company), the lead contractor for RS-25 engines, and Boeing, the lead contractor for the core stage, will now be concentrated on the intricate task of securely fastening the engines to the stage and integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure.
The SLS core stage, standing at an impressive height of 212 feet, serves as the foundational structure for the Moon rocket. Its two substantial propellant tanks hold an impressive capacity of over 733,000 gallons of super-chilled liquid propellant to power the four RS-25 engines. Simultaneously, the stage’s flight computers, avionics, and electrical systems function as the central intelligence of the rocket. During the Artemis II mission, these RS-25 engines will collectively generate over 2 million pounds of thrust for a duration of eight minutes, propelling the Artemis II crew beyond low-Earth orbit on their journey around the Moon.
Under the Artemis program, NASA is committed to landing the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface. The Space Launch System (SLS) is a critical component of NASA’s infrastructure for deep space exploration, working in conjunction with Orion and the lunar Gateway orbiting the Moon, as well as commercial human landing systems. It is noteworthy that SLS remains the sole rocket capable of conducting a single mission to transport Orion, astronauts, and essential supplies to the Moon.