Space Launch System
134 articles
Countdown underway for critical moon rocket fueling test Monday
The countdown began Saturday evening and will continue through the start of a simulated launch window opening at 9 p.m. EST Monday. The test started two days late because of predicted arctic weather along Florida's Space Coast.
Cold weather delays earliest Artemis 2 launch opportunity
The agency is looking at Feb. 11 as the earliest date for launching the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. However, it hinges entirely on the status of Artemis 2 and whether or not it has launched.
VideoEastern Range ready for same day fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan rockets
Florida’s Space Coast is preparing for a future that could see in excess of 350 launches annually.
VideoOrion hatch ‘blemish’ delays launch day rehearsal for Artemis 2 astronauts
The hatch issue caused NASA to modify its prelaunch preparations within the Vehicle Assembly Building but it continues to target an early February launch of the mission to carry four astronauts on a loop around the Moon.
Orion spacecraft arrives at VAB ahead of stacking for Artemis 2
This is the first spacecraft that will carry humans on a mission to the Moon since 1972. The Artemis 2 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 5, 2026.
VideoNASA leaders, Artemis contractors argue importance of architecture continuity for returning to the Moon
Representatives from NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin argued that the United States shouldn’t skip past the Moon in favor of Mars when it comes to crewed deep space exploration. The discussion came up during a panel at the SpaceCom conference concerning the forthcoming Artemis 2 mission.
VideoAs it happened: NASA leadership announces delays to first Artemis crewed launch, Moon landing missions
NASA announced new delays for the Artemis Moon program at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Artemis 2 mission to circle the Moon is now scheduled for 2026 and the first lunar landing is delayed to 2027.
VideoNASA prepares to roll Artemis 2 core stage to the Vehicle Assembly Building
The massive 212-foot-long core stage of the Space Launch System rocket arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center late Tuesday morning. Rollout to the VAB is set to begin around 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.
First astronaut missions to the Moon since 1972 delayed due to heat shield questions, hardware readiness
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on Tuesday that Artemis 2 will be delayed until Sept. 2025 and Artemis 3 until Sept. 2026. The additional time is needed both from a hardware readiness perspective as well as to answer outstanding questions about the heat shield.
Repairs and upgrades await SLS mobile launcher before crewed lunar mission
The mobile launch platform for NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center Friday for inspections and repairs after liftoff of the Artemis 1 moon mission last month, setting the stage for upgrades to the 380-foot-tall structure before the first crewed Artemis moon flight scheduled for 2024.