NASA Teams on Track for Artemis I Moon Rocket Rollout To Launch Pad

Teams are on track to roll the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B no earlier than Friday, November 4 with first motion targeted for 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Minor repairs that were identified through detailed inspections have mostly been completed. Preparations are underway to ready the mobile launcher and VAB for rollout. This includes configuring the mobile launcher arms and umbilicals and continuing to retract the access platforms surrounding SLS and Orion as work is completed.

Testing of the reaction control system on the twin solid rocket boosters is complete and those components are ready for flight. Additionally, flight batteries have been installed and are ready. Engineers also have replaced the batteries on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), which was powered up for a series of tests to ensure the stage is functioning properly. Teams successfully completed final confidence checks for the ICPS, launch vehicle stage adapter, and the core stage forward skirt.

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The Moon is seen rising behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

NASA teams continue working in the intertank area of the core stage and upper section of the boosters to replace batteries. These areas will remain open to support the remaining battery and flight termination system activities. Flight termination system testing will start next week on the intertank and booster. Once complete, those elements will be ready for launch. Charging of the secondary payloads in the Orion stage adapter is also complete.

Teams recharged, replaced, and reinstalled several of the radiation instruments and the crew seat accelerometer inside Orion ahead of the crew module closure for roll. Technicians will refresh the specimens for the space biology payload at the launch pad. The crew module and launch abort system hatches are closed for the roll to the pad, and engineers will perform final closeouts at the pad prior to launch.

NASA teams plan to move the crawler transporter into position outside of the VAB ahead of rolling into the facility early next week. The agency continues to target a launch date no earlier than November 14 at 12:07 a.m. EDT.