Ground Team Mates Integrity Spacecraft To SLS Rocket

NASA announced that its Exploration Ground Systems team has joined the Lockheed Martin Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by its crew, to the Space Launch System booster rocket for the Artemis II lunar mission that will be scheduled in early 2026.

After the Integrity spacecraft was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center, it was lifted on top of the SLS rocket in High Bay 3 on October 19. Next, teams will complete all the electrical and data connections between the SLS and Orion, as well as the umbilical connections from the mobile launch platform to the spacecraft.

EGS will the run comprehensive tests of the integrated spaceship before it is rolled out to Launch Pad 39B for a wet dress rehearsal early next year.

NASA Acting Administrator Sean P. Duffy said, "Integration of SLS and Orion represents a major milestone in our progress on Artemis. Soon, we will be launching four astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over half a century on Artemis II — the latest demonstration of American dominance in space."

The Artemis II mission, the first with crew aboard, is set to launch no earlier than February 2026, and possible launch windows exist until April. This first crewed mission will last 10 days and is essentially a fly-by loop around the Moon and back to Earth.

Robert Lightfoot, President of Lockheed Martin Space said, "The full stack of Orion on the SLS is a truly spectacular sight. Our teams have been working tirelessly to finalize these last steps and ensure Orion takes the crew to the Moon and brings them home safely."

FMI:  www.nasa.gov/ , www.lockheedmartin.com/