Artemis 1 Update: Orion Continues to be Prepped for Its Move to KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building Several Weeks from Now...

NASA / Kim Shiflett

Last week, the launch abort tower was attached to the Orion capsule inside the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

This milestone occurred last Friday, July 23...with the next step being the installation of four ogive panels that will form the fairing assembly enshrouding Orion during the first few minutes of flight on Artemis 1.

Once Orion has been fully attached to its launch abort system, the crewed vehicle will be transported to KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building—where it will be mated to the Space Launch System, completing stacking operations for the Artemis 1 Moon rocket. This is set to occur in late August or early September.

Inside the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC, technicians have already placed 7 of 13 special CubeSats inside the Orion Stage Adapter (OSA). This process started on July 14.

The remaining satellites—which will travel to destinations ranging from lunar orbit, the Moon's surface and all the way to deep space—should be installed inside OSA within the next two weeks.


NASA