The Space Launch System rocket that is expected to carry the first humans to the Moon in more than half a century has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center just over a year before its scheduled launch.
The 64-meter first stage of the SLS rocket traveled a distance of 1,440 kilometers by water on a special Pegasus barge from NASA’s assembly plant in New Orleans to Cape Canaveral. It was then moved to the Rocket’s Vertical Assembly Building (VAB), where it will receive the side boosters and Orion spacecraft. Once fully assembled, the rocket will be rolled out to the famous Launch Pad 39B, where its predecessor was launched in November 2022.
The SLS rocket’s main stage includes four Space Shuttle-era RS-25 engines. Before launch, they will be joined by two solid rocket boosters that will produce a combined thrust of 4,400 tons.
It’s an important step in NASA’s efforts to return astronauts to the Moon. Next year’s Artemis II mission involves a four-person crewed orbit around the Moon. Orion’s crew will consist of NASA astronaut Victor Glover, who will be the first African-American to leave Earth’s orbit, Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. If the mission is successful, it will set the foundation for Artemis III, the first landing on the lunar surface in more than half a century, scheduled for 2026.
NASA has already successfully completed a test flight around the moon and back without a crew. However, the Aerospace Administration’s Office of Inspector General is concerned that the unexpected damage to Orion’s heat shield during re-entry last time still poses a significant risk to a future manned mission.
“The delivery of the SLS main stage for the Artemis II rocket to Kennedy Space Center signals the transition from production to launch readiness. We are motivated by the success of Artemis I and are focused on working on the first manned flight of the Artemis rocket,” said SLS Program Manager John Honeycutt.
Earlier we told you about the five tallest rockets in history.
According to space.com
