NASA is set to unveil the final piece of hardware for the Space Launch System rocket built for the Artemis II mission.
Journalists were invited to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to see the component.
The remaining sections of the Artemis II SLS rocket are already on Mobile Launch Platform 1 at Kennedy Space Center. Artemis II, the first crewed flight of Orion, is scheduled for a 10-day trip around the moon in April 2026.
The Orion Stage Adapter, built by NASA Marshall, serves as a connector between the SLS cryogenic transfer stage and the Orion spacecraft. This ring-shaped structure forms the upper section of the rocket. Additionally, the adapter will enable the transportation of compact satellites, or CubeSats, into deep space.
The Artemis program will involve astronauts exploring the Moon for scientific research, economic development, and preparation for the first manned missions to Mars.
The lunar mission with a crew of four is scheduled to launch in April 2026. This test flight will be a step toward landing the first woman and another man on the lunar surface.
The crew will include commander Reed Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Wiseman, Glover, and Koch represent NASA, while Hansen represents the Canadian Space Agency.
Artemis program manager Mike Sarafin noted that Artemis II continues the testing begun in the uncrewed Artemis I mission.
“This flight will confirm the readiness of Orion's key life support systems for long-duration missions and allow the crew to practice the operations necessary for the success of the Artemis III mission,” Sarafin explained.
Sourse: www.upi.com
