NASA's Artemis III Core Stage Arrives at Kennedy Space Center
The core stage of NASA's Artemis III mission has arrived at Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant milestone in preparations for the 2027 launch.
The core stage of NASA's Artemis III mission has arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, marking a significant milestone in preparations for the 2027 launch. The top four-fifths of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage, encompassing the liquid hydrogen tank, liquid oxygen tank, intertank, and forward skirt, completed a 900-mile journey from NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans aboard the Pegasus barge, arriving on April 27, 2026.
Following its arrival, the core stage was transported to KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on April 28. There, it will be integrated with the engine section and boat-tail, which were previously delivered and integrated in August 2025. This assembly will complete the 212-foot-tall core stage, a critical component of the SLS rocket.
Artemis III is scheduled to launch astronauts into Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket in 2027. The mission aims to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft, such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon, which are essential for future lunar landings.
This delivery marks the first time core stage assembly operations are taking place at KSC, reflecting NASA's efforts to streamline the Artemis program and accelerate the timeline for returning humans to the Moon.
