NASA’s Artemis II mission is one step closer to launch after the Orion spacecraft was stacked atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. This milestone marks the first time the full Artemis II stack has come together.
The Orion spacecraft is designed to take crews to deep space destinations and return them safely to Earth. Four astronauts – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – will call Orion home during their 10-day Artemis II mission, which will send them on a journey around the moon and back.
L3Harris plays a critical role in Orion’s capabilities, providing 22 engines and motors that enable precise maneuvers in space; the audio system that connects astronauts to each other, mission control and the world; as well as composite overwrapped pressure vessels that support the operation of the spacecraft during its journey. These technologies are essential to Orion’s ability to carry astronauts farther into space for longer periods of time.
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Download free sample pages“This is the first time since 1972 that we've assembled a rocket and spacecraft that will carry humans to the moon's vicinity,” said Kristin Houston, President, Space Propulsion and Power Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris. “This is an exciting moment for the Artemis II mission, and the spacecraft’s name ‘Integrity’ is fitting, as it embodies the trust, precision and resilience required to make this mission a success.”
Key Propulsion Systems Powering Orion
At the heart of Orion’s propulsion capabilities is the Orion Main Engine (OME), located on the European Service Module. Originally manufactured by Aerojet Rocketdyne for the space shuttle program, the OME is responsible for large in-space maneuvers. The OME flying on Artemis II helped propel the Atlantis orbiter during six space shuttle missions.
Supporting the OME are eight auxiliary engines on the service module, each generating 110 pounds of thrust, and 12 reaction control system thrusters on the crew module, each generating 160 pounds of thrust. These systems, built in Redmond, Washington, steer the spacecraft throughout the mission and orient Orion during atmospheric reentry, ensuring the crew safely returns to Earth.
Another critical propulsion system is the jettison motor. The jettison motor is a vital and unique component in the Launch Abort System (LAS), firing during every mission (either in a nominal launch or mission abort scenario). It generates 40,000 pounds of thrust to safely separate the LAS from the Orion Crew Module. Qualification testing for the jettison motor was conducted at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and the motor was built at the L3Harris facilities in Sacramento, California, and Orange, Virginia.
Orion Audio System
The L3Harris Orion Audio System, built at the L3Harris Palm Bay, Florida site, is completely customized from the ground up – from the circuit cards to the network stack – to provide astronauts with mission-critical communications capabilities. It will provide redundant internal and external crew communications, voice recording and playback, and the audio interface for search-and-rescue operations. It features five voice channels, low power consumption and 13 alarms that provide real-time situational awareness.
Pressure Vessels
The L3Harris team provides a total of 17 pressurant tanks for the vehicle. Two oxygen tanks are integrated into each crew member's suit, while four tanks are in the service module to supply the crew with a breathable atmosphere throughout the mission. Additionally, upon splashdown, Orion will deploy its self-righting flotation system, which is inflated using helium stored in five composite overwrapped pressure vessels. This system ensures the crew can safely exit Orion after splashdown. All these pressurant tanks are manufactured at the L3Harris facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey.
The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission, fully assembled with its launch abort system, is lifted ontop of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission, fully assembled with its launch abort system, is lifted ontop of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Preparing for Launch
For the next several months, the Artemis II vehicle will undergo rigorous integrated testing to ensure all systems work seamlessly together. These tests will prepare the spacecraft and rocket for their ultimate mission: carrying astronauts around the moon and back.
“With Orion now securely on top of the core stage, the Artemis II stack is a powerful symbol of our nation’s commitment to exploration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – an especially fitting milestone as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding next year,” added Houston. “Stacking Orion onto the SLS rocket is not just a technical milestone, it represents the incredible teamwork and innovation that are driving the future of human space exploration.”
