NASA to showcase key Artemis II component on August 21

The cone-shaped launch vehicle stage adapter links the core stage of the rocket to its upper stage and safeguards the upper stage’s engine, which will be pivotal in propelling the Artemis II mission around the Moon. (image credit: Sam Lott/NASA)

NASA is advancing towards its ambitious goal of returning humans to the Moon with the Artemis II mission, set to be the agency's first crewed flight under the Artemis program. The American space agency announced on August 14 that it will showcase a critical component of the Artemis II mission on August 21, at its Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The space agency stated that its event will feature the launch vehicle stage adapter, a cone-shaped piece that links the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's core stage to its upper stage, crucial for the upcoming crewed lunar mission.

Produced by Teledyne Brown Engineering and the Jacobs Space Exploration Group under the ESSCA contract, using advanced NASA Marshall welding technology, this component is the largest SLS part manufactured at the center for Artemis II.

The SLS is a super heavy-lift rocket designed to facilitate human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. It is the only rocket capable of sending NASA's Orion spacecraft, four astronauts, and significant cargo to the Moon in a single launch. The SLS's core stage, which stands 212 feet tall, includes its propellant tanks, avionics, flight computer systems, and four RS-25 engines—all manufactured and assembled at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.

The upcoming Artemis II mission will be a historic milestone, as it will mark NASA's first crewed flight under the Artemis program. Astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back. This mission aims to pave the way for future lunar exploration and to achieve significant milestones, including landing the first woman, first person of color, and international partner astronaut on the Moon.