The countdown to the launch of Artemis 2 has begun. On December 19th, NASA’s Exploration Ground System (EGS) team stacked another booster segment. The left aft center booster segment was added to the launch pad. This milestone officially starts the clock for Artemis 2’s launch.
The Clock Begins
With this segment stacked, the countdown officially begins. Each solid rocket booster has a 12-month certification period, which starts when two rocket motors are stacked. This certification ensures the booster is safe to operate during this period.
To get certified, the booster must be thoroughly inspected to ensure every part meets performance criteria. Teams inspect many parts. One notable area is a joint between the segments called the J-Leg. This component helps vent built-up gas outside of the booster so that it doesn’t damage it. It was added after the Challenger disaster.
Launch Is More Than 12 Months Away
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or OIG analyst to see that the certification period ends before the April 2026 launch date.
This leaves two possibilities for Artemis 2’s boosters. NASA could try to beat the odds and move the launch date forward for a change. However, this is unlikely with the current schedule. Especially when you factor in delays and retests that may be necessary.
The other option is that NASA could have the boosters recertified as they approach the end of their present certification period. The boosters would need to undergo a thorough inspection and checkout. Checking similar points of critical performance like the previously mentioned J-Leg. Once cleared, NASA could then have it certified again and that would carry it to the end of 2026.
Such recertification is not unprecedented. STS-1 and Artemis 1 both exceeded the 12-month stacking period. STS-1 segments were first stacked in January 1980, launching 14 months later in April 1981. Artemis 1 segments were stacked in January 2021, with the launch occurring 23 months later in November 2022. Despite the extended stack life, Artemis 1’s boosters performed without defects.
The final decision will depend on NASA’s progress in the coming year.
What About the Rest of Artemis 2?
The remaining booster segments will be moved from the Rotation, Processing, and Surge Facility (RPSF) to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for stacking. Nine booster segments and related components remain to be stacked. Afterward, EGS will move the core stage from High Bay 2 to High Bay 3, where the mobile launch platform is located.
Meanwhile, Orion recently entered the Final Assembly and System Testing (FAST) cell at the Kennedy Space Center. Soon, the spacecraft will receive its solar arrays. Afterward, Orion will be fueled with its MON-3 and Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) propellants.
Once fueled, Orion will be fitted with its service module fairing panels. These panels protect the service module from aerodynamic stress during launch. Next, the Launch Abort System (LAS) will be installed. Artemis 2 will mark the first space launch with a fully functional LAS. Both EFT-1 (2014) and Artemis 1 featured inert abort motors, relying solely on live separation motors. Though extensively tested on Earth, this will be the LAS’s first fully operational flight into space.
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