NASA’s Artemis II mission is one step closer to launch after the Orion spacecraft was stacked atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. This milestone marks the first time the full Artemis II stack has come together.
The Orion spacecraft is designed to take crews to deep space destinations and return them safely to Earth. Four astronauts – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – will call Orion home during their 10-day Artemis II mission, which will send them on a journey around the moon and back.
L3Harris plays a critical role in Orion’s capabilities, providing 22 engines and motors that enable precise maneuvers in space; the audio system that connects astronauts to each other, mission control and the world; as well as composite overwrapped pressure vessels that support the operation of the spacecraft during its journey. These technologies are essential to Orion’s ability to carry astronauts farther into space for longer periods of time.
“This is the first time since 1972 that we've assembled a rocket and spacecraft that will carry humans to the moon's vicinity,” said Kristin Houston, President, Space Propulsion and Power Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris. “This is an exciting moment for the Artemis II mission, and the spacecraft’s name ‘Integrity’ is fitting, as it embodies the trust, precision and resilience required to make this mission a success.”
