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NASA has begun assembling the Artemis Space Launch System, marking an important milestone for future missions to the moon.
“At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers lowered the first of 10 segments into place on November 21 for the twin solid rocket boosters that will power the first flight of the agency’s new deep space rocket,” he said. NASA in a note. “Artemis will be an unmanned flight to test the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft as an integrated system prior to manned flights to the moon with the Artemis program.”
The space agency said the booster segments arrived by train in June from Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing facility in Utah.
“Stacking operations began on November 19 with engineers transporting a booster segment from the slew, processing, and surge structure to the 525-foot-tall vehicle assembly building,” he said.
NASA ROCKET BOOSTER TEST FOR FUTURE ARTEMIS MISSIONS TO THE MOON
The Artemis I mission is scheduled for 2021.
“Stacking the first piece of the SLS rocket on the mobile launcher marks a milestone for the Artemis program,” said Andrew Shroble, an integrated workflow manager with civil engineering firm Jacobs. “It shows that the mission is really taking shape and will soon be heading for the launch pad.”
The stern segments of the space launch system’s solid rocket thrusters for the Artemis I mission are preparing to move from high bay 4 inside NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to be stacked on mobile launcher inside the bay 3.
(NASA / Kim Shiflett)
NASA’s Artemis program aims to bring astronauts back to the moon in 2024. However, a recent report from NASA’s Inspector General’s Office described the 2024 timeline as overly ambitious.
Earlier this year, NASA tested booster rocket technology that will be used to power future Artemis missions to the moon.
NASA ASTRONAUTS BECOME LAST RESIDENTS OF THE SPACE STATION IN THE HISTORICAL DRAGON MISSION OF THE SPACEX CREW
Last year, NASA revealed details of its vision for the Artemis Moon Lander that will bring astronauts back to the lunar surface.
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The United States is the only country to have placed astronauts on the moon, having last done so in December 1972 during the Apollo 17 mission. Only 12 men, all Americans, have set foot on the moon.
Chris Ciaccia of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
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