Boeing Delivers Rocket Stage to NASA for Planned Human Moon Mission

Boeing delivered NASA's second core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), intended to propel the Artemis II crew to lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years.

The 212-foot-tall rocket stage, which is the largest component of the Artemis II mission, will be loaded onto the Pegasus barge and transported 900 miles to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Once there, it will be integrated with the other Artemis II components, including the upper stage, solid rocket boosters, and NASA's Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. This integration is a crucial step in preparation for the Artemis II launch, scheduled for 2025. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will orbit the Moon after launching SLS.

This core stage, powered by four RS-25 engines, alongside two solid-fueled booster rockets, will provide the 8.8 million pounds of necessary thrust to propel Artemis II and future missions into space.

SLS is the only rocket capable of carrying crew and large cargo to the moon in a single launch. Its capabilities will deliver human-rated spacecraft, habitats, and science missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.