Overview
- The SLS core stage for Artemis III, which NASA rolled out Monday, began its trip from the Michoud Assembly Facility to the agency’s Pegasus barge for shipment to Kennedy Space Center.
- At Kennedy, teams will finish outfitting and then stack the 212‑foot stage that holds more than 733,000 gallons of super‑chilled propellant for launch preparation.
- Following Orion’s April 10 splashdown, initial inspections found the heat shield performed as expected with much less char loss than Artemis I, with further X‑rays and sample work planned at Marshall this summer.
- Early assessments show the SLS placed Orion on its intended trajectory, pad hardening from Artemis I lessons limited launch damage, and Navy-led teams safely recovered the crew and spacecraft.
- NASA is investigating a urine vent line issue seen on Artemis II and plans to identify the cause and apply fixes before Artemis III.