Orion Spacecraft Progress
On June 28, 2024, technicians lifted NASA's Orion spacecraft out of the Final Assembly and System Testing cell, marking a crucial step towards its mission readiness for Artemis II. This integrated spacecraft has undergone rigorous testing and assembly, including comprehensive performance verification of its subsystems and meticulous checks for leaks in its propulsion systems.

A 30-ton crane recently returned Orion to the renovated altitude chamber, where it will undergo a series of electromagnetic tests. These tests will expose the spacecraft to a near-vacuum environment by removing air, replicating the conditions it will encounter during its lunar missions. Data gathered from these tests will ensure the spacecraft is fully prepared to transport Artemis II astronauts safely through space.

SLS Rocket Core Stage Readiness
Simultaneously, preparations for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core stage, which will propel Artemis II, are advancing. On July 6, NASA and Boeing moved the Artemis II rocket stage to another section of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. This relocation is part of the process to ready the rocket stage for its shipment to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Pegasus barge.

Before the move, technicians removed external access stands, or scaffolding, that surrounded the rocket stage. These stands allowed teams to inspect the core stage's intricate avionics and propulsion systems. The 212-foot core stage, which houses two large propellant tanks, avionics, flight computer systems, and four RS-25 engines, is fully assembled at Michoud. This collaboration between NASA, Boeing, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, highlights the joint effort required to build, assemble, and transport this critical component.

Advancements for Artemis IV
Looking ahead, the Artemis IV mission will debut the advanced Block 1B configuration of the SLS rocket, featuring upgraded RS-25 engines. Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies (NYSE) company, has modernized these engines with state-of-the-art flight computers designed to endure higher temperatures due to proximity to the SLS solid rocket motors. Comprehensive tests conducted at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi have validated these upgrades, ensuring the engines are ready for their critical role in the Artemis missions.

The Artemis IV mission will also introduce the SLS Block 1B rocket's exploration upper stage, powered by four Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engines. This stage provides a significant payload capacity increase, allowing the crewed versions of the SLS Block 1B to deliver 38 metric tons of payload to cislunar space in a single mission, compared to 27 metric tons for the Block 1 configuration. The cargo-only versions can deliver up to 42 metric tons, enhancing the mission's capability to transport supplies and equipment.

"The SLS Block 1B upgrade is a game changer that will enable the most ambitious missions ever attempted," said Kristin Houston, President, Space Propulsion and Power Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris. "The new universal stage adapter above the exploration upper stage provides 24% more volume for a co-manifested payload than an industry-standard five-meter-class payload fairing."

Starting with Artemis V, newly manufactured RS-25 engines will be used, benefiting from production efficiencies and technological advancements. These new engines will reduce unit costs by over 30% compared to their shuttle-era predecessors, while providing higher thrust levels.

NASA's Ambitious Future
Under the Artemis program, NASA aims to land the first woman, the first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon. The SLS, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits, and rovers, the Gateway orbiting the Moon, and commercial human landing systems, form the backbone of NASA's deep space exploration efforts. The SLS is the only rocket capable of sending Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

These developments mark significant milestones in NASA's journey to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustainable presence on the Moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.

Sara Banda [email protected][email protected][email protected]Related Links
Artemis II at NASA
L3Harris Technologies
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com