NASA / Kim Shiflett
Last weekend, engineers attached the Orion stage adapter (OSA) to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
This important milestone—which occurred on Saturday, October 9—sets the stage for the Orion spacecraft itself to be mated to NASA's newest Moon rocket inside KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) within the next week or so.
Now aboard SLS, thanks to the installation of OSA, are 10 CubeSats that will venture into deep space along with Orion after launch.
Originally, there were supposed to be 13 CubeSats that would hitch a ride to the Moon and beyond on the Artemis 1 mission...but unfortunately, 3 CubeSats (including NASA's Lunar Flashlight) were unable to meet the deadline for delivery to KSC.
Within the next several days, Orion will be transported from KSC's Launch Abort System Facility to the VAB to complete assembly of the rocket that will embark on Artemis 1.
Once stacking is finished, the SLS will be rolled over to KSC's Launch Complex 39B to undergo a Wet Dress Rehearsal next month. Artemis 1 is now scheduled to lift off no earlier than January of next year.
Stay tuned!
NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
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