NASA Artemis II Space Launch System Upper Stage Rocket Delivered to Kennedy Space Center

four-story propulsion system powered by RL10 engine

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA—On March 9, NASA received the upper stage for the agency’s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket, which was supplied by Boeing and United Launch Alliance.

Known as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, it arrived at the Multi Payload Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The upper stage traveled to the spaceport from ULA’s Delta Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

While at the MPPF, technicians will fuel the SLS upper stage with hydrazine for its reaction control system before transporting it to the center’s Vehicle Assembly Building for integration with SLS rocket elements atop mobile launcher 1.

The rocket’s solid rocket booster segments are already assembled for launch, and the core stage and launch vehicle stage adapter will soon be integrated. The upper stage will be mated to the adapter.

The four-story propulsion system is powered by an RL10 engine, giving Orion the boost to orbit Earth twice before venturing toward the Moon.

Similar Stories