The Structural Completion of NASA’s Artemis III Core Stage: A Giant Leap Forward in Space Exploration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is making significant strides in its Artemis campaign to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. A crucial component of this mission is the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which will be responsible for launching astronauts on their journey to the Moon. Recently, NASA announced that all major structures for the core stage of the SLS rocket for the Artemis III mission have reached structural completion. This milestone marks a significant step forward in NASA’s ambitious plans for deep space exploration.

The core stage of the SLS rocket is a massive structure that consists of two giant propellant tanks: a liquid oxygen tank and a liquid hydrogen tank. These tanks collectively hold over 733,000 gallons of super-chilled propellant, which powers the four RS-25 engines and must remain extremely cold to remain liquid. The liquid oxygen tank, which measures 51 feet in length, was the last major structure to be welded inside the Vertical Assembly Building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Technicians completed the welding process on January 8, 2024.

The liquid hydrogen tank, which is already fully welded, is currently undergoing priming in another cell within the Vertical Assembly Building area called the Building 131 cryogenic tank thermal protection system and primer application complex. The internal cleaning process, which is similar to a shower to ensure contaminants do not find their way into the stage’s complex propulsion and engine systems prior to priming, was completed on November 14, 2023.

Manufacturing hardware is a multi-step process that includes welding, washing, and outfitting hardware. The internal cleaning process is essential to ensure the stage’s systems remain free of contaminants. Once internal cleaning is complete, primer is applied to the external portions of the tank’s barrel section and domes by an automated robotic tool. Following primer, technicians apply a foam-based thermal protection system to shield the tank from the extreme temperatures it will face during launch and flight while also regulating the super-chilled propellant within.

Chad Bryant, acting manager of the Stages Office for NASA’s SLS Program, stated, “NASA and its partners are processing major hardware elements at Michoud for several SLS rockets in parallel to support the agency’s Artemis campaign. With the Artemis II core stage nearing completion, the major structural elements of the SLS core stage for Artemis III will advance through production on the factory floor.”

The two massive propellant tanks for the rocket are a testament to the engineering prowess required to send astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single launch. The core stage, along with the RS-25 engines, will produce two million pounds of thrust to help launch NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit and to the lunar surface for Artemis III. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

Through Artemis, NASA aims to send astronauts—including the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut—to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for crewed mission to Mars. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, exploration ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, Gateway, and human landing systems.

NASA’s Artemis campaign is a significant step forward in humanity’s exploration of space. The completion of the major structures for the core stage of the SLS rocket for the Artemis III mission marks a significant milestone in this ambitious endeavor. As NASA continues to make progress in the development of the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft, we can look forward to the day when astronauts once again set foot on the lunar surface.

For more information on NASA’s SLS, visit https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/space-launch-system/.

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Page Last Updated: Feb 16, 2024

Page Editor: Lee Mohon

Responsible NASA Official: Abigail Bowman