“Orion Spacecraft Achieves Crucial Stacking Breakthrough as Artemis II Countdown Begins!”
In an action indicating mission preparedness, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) group recently joined and linked the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-created Orion spacecraft with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the forthcoming Artemis II mission.
The Orion spacecraft, referred to as Integrity by its astronaut team, was conveyed to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center where it was positioned atop the SLS rocket in High Bay 3 on Oct. 19. This signifies a critical milestone for the Artemis II mission as NASA and industry collaborate toward a historic launch to the Moon with four astronauts early next year.
“The integration of SLS and Orion represents a significant milestone in our advancement on Artemis,” stated Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “Soon, we will be sending four astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over half a century on Artemis II — the most recent demonstration of American supremacy in space.”
After the coupling, teams will establish electrical and data linkages between Orion and SLS, in addition to umbilical connections from the mobile launch platform to the spacecraft. EGS will perform integrated tests of Orion and SLS prior to their rollout to Launch Pad 39B for a wet dress rehearsal next year.
“The complete assembly of Orion on the SLS is a genuinely awe-inspiring sight,” remarked Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space. “Our teams have been diligently working to finalize these last steps and guarantee Orion safely transports the crew to the Moon and back.”
The first crewed voyage of the Artemis program is anticipated to launch no sooner than February 2026, with potential launch windows extending through April 2026. The mission will last ten days and is a pivotal event in establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for exploration and scientific inquiry.
Orion is the most sophisticated, human-rated, deep space spacecraft ever constructed. Lockheed Martin serves as the primary contractor to NASA for Orion and produced the crew module, crew module adaptor, and launch abort system.
