NASA has integrated the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with its twin solid rocket boosters for the Artemis III mission. The assembly process took place in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida between October 22 and October 28, 2026.
Technicians utilized a specialized lifting beam to move the 212-foot core stage from High Bay 2. Following the completion of testing and system checkouts, the integrated stack will be transported to Launch Pad 39B. There, teams will perform a tanking test using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, alongside practice countdown procedures.
The Artemis III mission will carry astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and Luca Parmitano of the ESA. The crew will travel in the Orion spacecraft to evaluate rendezvous and docking operations with commercial vehicles developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX, serving as a precursor to future lunar landing missions.
