Artemis Missions

To the Moon and Beyond

Artemis is NASA's program to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

The Space Launch System (SLS), which launches the Artemis missions, is the rocket designed for deep-space exploration and human travel beyond Earth’s orbit. L3Harris is the prime contractor for the RS-25 engines that power the core stage.

Orion is the spacecraft designed to carry humans to deep space. L3Harris provides the composite overwrapped pressure vessels for the spacecraft’s life support and self-righting flotation system. L3Harris also provides the Jettison Motor for Orion’s Launch Abort System.

We've also been tapped to provide the NASA Orion audio system that will connect astronauts to each other, to mission control and to the world during the Artemis missions – as the Orion spacecraft carries them from Earth to lunar orbit and back.

For six decades, L3Harris has partnered with NASA to develop technology that's been critical to the evolution of human spaceflight. In fact, our technology has been part of every crewed NASA mission: from Project Mercury to Apollo, from the Space Shuttle era to the International Space Station (ISS) era and now beyond – as part of NASA’s Artemis missions.

RS-25 Engines

The RS-25 evolved from the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) that successfully powered 135 flights of the space shuttle. The engine underwent five major upgrades during its life on shuttle, each time incorporating the modern technologies and innovations – and each time demonstrating major improvements in safety and reliability. Between the shuttle and SLS programs, the RS-25 and SSME engines have collectively compiled more than 1.1 million seconds of firing time.

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NASA Orion Audio System

Orion is outfitted with a Launch Abort System (LAS) that will rapidly separate the crew capsule from the launch vehicle in the unlikely event of a catastrophic event during launch or ascent. L3Harris builds the jettison motor that provides approximately 40,000 pounds of thrust to separate the LAS from the crew module, enabling the capsule and crew to safely land under parachutes. During a nominal mission, the jettison motor activates after stage-two ignition to separate the LAS from the spacecraft as the crewmembers continue their journey. This critical task makes it the only motor on the LAS to fire on every mission.

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L3Harris' NASA Orion audio system will play a mission-critical role in returning astronauts to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis missions.

Powerful Recovery Communications

The L3Harris RF-7850M-HH radio is a critical component for recovery communications, ensuring reliable UHF/VHF AM/FM voice connectivity during both nominal and off-nominal landing scenarios. One radio is integrated into the vehicle at the commander’s seat, with audio routed through the L3Harris Audio Control Unit, enabling the crew to maintain clear communication with recovery forces while remaining in their suits. A second radio is included in the crew survival kit, providing a vital lifeline for the crew in the event they must evacuate into the life raft, ensuring continuous communication in even the most challenging situations.

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The Space Launch System (SLS) rockets up the sky

Image Credit: NASA/MSFC ...

L3Harris provides the Jettison Motor for Orion’s Launch Abort System (LAS).

L3Harris is NASA’s prime contractor for the four RS-25 rocket engines that provide more than two million pounds of combined thrust to propel the rocket during the first eight minutes of flight.

Featured News

Press release | 07. 22. 2026

L3Harris Delivers SLS Core Stage Engines for Artemis III Mission

L3Harris Technologies has delivered the four RS-25 engines to power the core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket as part of the agency’s next Artemis mission set for launch in 2027.