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Artemis II SLS Core Stage Heading to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

AR
Aerojet Rocketdyne
Jul 16, 2024 | 2 MINUTE Read

NASA’s second SLS (Space Launch System) rocket core stage, complete with four RS-25 main engines provided by L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne segment, is making its way to Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in preparation for the historic Artemis II mission.

Slated to launch in 2025, Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the SLS and the Orion spacecraft. The mission’s four-person crew will be the first to depart low Earth orbit in more than five decades and includes the first-ever woman, person of color and international astronaut to make the journey to cislunar space.

“We’re embarking on a new era in space exploration with the crewed flight of Artemis II,” said Kristin Houston, President of Space Propulsion and Power Systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne. "After pioneering reusable rocket engines during the Space Shuttle program, we’re excited to have our RS-25 engines play such a large part in the Artemis campaign.”

The RS-25, formally known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), is the first reusable rocket engine. Two of the RS-25 engines on Artemis II are upgraded Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) that flew before – engines 2047 and 2059; and two will make their inaugural flight on the Artemis II mission. Engine 2047 flew on STS-135, the final shuttle mission, while engine 2059 flew on STS-134, the program’s penultimate flight. Between them, they flew 20 space shuttle missions.

The SLS rocket is optimized to deliver crew and cargo to the Moon on a single flight, which is why the engines will not return with SLS.

"The RS-25 engines bring a tremendous legacy of performance and reliability to the Artemis II rocket,” said Mike Lauer, RS-25 program manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne. “These engines were upgraded with new controllers and other features to enable deep space exploration.”

Artemis II - First Crewed Flight to the Moon Since Apollo

The RS-25 engines on the Artemis II core stage will operate at 109% of rated thrust, compared to 104.5% during the Space Shuttle program. The company is working on new engines for Artemis V and beyond that will operate at 111% of rated thrust.

Once the core stage arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, it will be transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will undergo inspections and weighing before the stacking process begins. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s RS-25 engine team will support the entire assembly process as needed.

In addition to the RS-25 engines and several other propulsion systems on SLS, Orion and the Gateway lunar space station, L3Harris supports NASA’s Artemis program by providing mission-critical avionics and the audio system astronauts will rely on to communicate as they push the boundaries of deep space exploration.

Resources

  • Artemis II First Crewed Flight to the Moon Since Apollo Infographic

    Artemis II First Crewed Flight to the Moon Since Apollo Infographic