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Moon rocket assembled: Orion stacked for Artemis II

With the Orion spacecraft now stacked into place, Artemis II is one step closer to launch.

October 21, 2025 in Space Launch System, Space, Innovation

The Orion stage adapter and spacecraft have been stacked on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket—sitting atop the Boeing-built core stage, upper stage, and avionics—in the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Boeing production crews have supported NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team throughout the stacking process, amid a government shutdown, particularly with maneuvers involving Boeing-provided hardware and the installation of engine thermal blankets. Engineering teams are assisting with vehicle integration, integrated launch simulations and test events to monitor vehicle functionality. 

After a recent lift, the Orion spacecraft now sits atop the Space Launch System, which will power NASA's Artemis II mission to send humans back to the moon. The Orion spacecraft hangs in the Vehicle Assembly Building, being slowly lowered onto the Space Launch System stack.
  • Up Next: Boeing teams remain focused on work at both KSC and NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, where preparations continue for future, more complex missions, such as landing humans on the moon. 
  • Core Stage 3: All five major sections are structurally complete, with integration of the four articles at MAF finished and major joining operations underway. At KSC, the engine section and boat tail have been placed into the Core Stage Vertical Integration Center located in the VAB High Bay 2 for outfitting.
  • Core Stage 4: All barrels and domes are complete. The engine section was shipped to KSC in September 2024 and moved into the VAB in August. Welding of the forward skirt is complete and welding of the LH2 tank is in-work in the Vertical Assembly Center at MAF. Structural assembly of the Intertank is complete.   
  • Core Stage 5: Welding, major ring machining, and structural assembly of the Intertank and Engine Section has commenced, with parts deliveries well under way.
  • Exploration Upper Stage: The structural test article (STA) and first flight article for the upgraded Exploration Upper Stage are in fabrication at MAF.
    • STA: All major elements are in fabrication, and sub-assembly is complete on the thrust structure. 
    • Flight article: welding has started on LH2 tank, interstage, forward adapter, and aft adapter; sub-assembly has started on thrust structure and equipment shelf at MAF. With the start of the LOX tank welding in November, all major elements for the first flight article will be in fabrication.

By Megan Gessner

 

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket – the nation’s next-generation, super heavy-lift. deep space rocket – will enable NASA’s Artemis program, carrying people and cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond. Boeing was selected to design, develop, test and produce the core stages, upper stages, and avionics for the SLS fleet. Following the successful launch of the first SLS rocket during the Artemis I mission on November 16, 2022, Boeing is focused on the upcoming Artemis II mission, scheduled for no later than April 2026. Production is well underway for the Boeing-built core stages, upper stages – including the Exploration Upper Stage – and avionics for future Artemis missions, reinforcing Boeing's commitment to advancing human space exploration.