Photos of the Day: An Unobstructed View of Artemis 1's SLS Rocket Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building...

NASA / Frank Michaux

Happy First Day of Autumn! Just thought I'd share these four photos showing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket after work platforms were retracted inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on Friday, September 17.

The removal of these platforms from around SLS paved the way for the Umbilical Release and Retract Test—which was originally supposed to occur about a month ago, but instead conducted last Sunday, September 19.

As of this update, the Integrated Modal Test should've begun on SLS and its mobile launcher inside the VAB. Once completed, this clears the way for the Mass Simulator for Orion and the Orion stage adapter's (OSA) structural test article to be removed from the mammoth Moon rocket.

By early next month, the flight-worthy OSA and the actual Orion spacecraft should be mated to SLS, completing assembly of the giant launch vehicle as it continues to be prepped for Artemis 1. Stay tuned!


NASA / Frank Michaux


NASA / Frank Michaux


NASA

NEW FOOTAGE 🚨 Watch as the different platforms around the SLS rocket retract as part of the Umbilical Release and Retract Test (URRT) at @NASAKennedy. @NASAGroundSys conducted the test to prepare for future #Artemis I stacking and launch activities >> https://t.co/HNSKsaXf8c pic.twitter.com/IV8MrSwrYn

— NASA_SLS (@NASA_SLS) September 22, 2021

Sound ON 🔊
On Sunday, Sept. 19th, teams with Exploration Ground Systems and @JacobsConnects successfully completed the Umbilical Release and Retract Test (URRT) with the mobile launcher and @NASA_SLS inside of High Bay 3 in the Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy. pic.twitter.com/SnhzF7cwgi

— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) September 22, 2021