– NASA rolled the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will launch the Artemis 2 mission off the factory floor at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
– Artemis 2 will launch four astronauts around the moon in 2025, the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo.
– The 212-foot core stage was transported 1 mile to the Pegasus barge to be shipped to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for further assembly and integration.
– The rollout event was witnessed by NASA and Boeing employees as well as Artemis 2 astronauts Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen.
– Artemis 2 aims to send the first woman and first person of color around the moon. It will demonstrate Orion’s deep space capabilities before crewed lunar landings begin.
– NASA has delayed Artemis 2’s launch from 2024 to no earlier than September 2025 due to issues identified during the Artemis 1 test flight.
– The core stage will be integrated with other rocket components at KSC before launching Artemis 2 on its mission around the moon in 2025.
Source: Space
