NASA Completes Core Stage of SLS for Artemis III Lunar Mission Set for 2027

• April 21, 2026

NASA has achieved a significant milestone in its Artemis program with the assembly of the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket intended for the Artemis III mission. This latest development marks a critical step toward the upcoming crewed lunar landing, currently planned for 2027.

SLS Core Stage Moves from Assembly Facility to Launch Preparation

The fully assembled core stage was recently transported out of the Michoud Assembly Facility, located in New Orleans. This facility serves as one of the primary production sites for NASA’s SLS components. Following its extraction from the assembly hangar, the core stage was moved to an outdoor platform for final preparations before transportation.

From Michoud, the rocket’s first stage will be loaded onto a specialized transport barge designed to carry large aerospace components. This barge will deliver the core stage to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the final assembly and integration of the SLS rocket will take place. These final steps at the Kennedy Space Center will ready the launch vehicle for its mission to the Moon.

The Artemis III mission represents a key phase of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars. The SLS rocket is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle specifically engineered to carry astronauts and cargo beyond low-Earth orbit, enabling lunar exploration and beyond.

While details regarding the overall launch timeline or mission specifics remain under continued development, the successful assembly and transport of the SLS core stage highlight NASA’s ongoing progress and commitment to its lunar ambitions. The 2027 target marks an important date as NASA continues to push forward its goal of returning humans to the lunar surface.

As the core stage arrives at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA will continue system tests and assembly protocols to ensure the rocket meets stringent performance standards necessary for the mission. The Artemis III flight will be among the first human expeditions to the Moon in over five decades, underscoring the significance of this recent engineering achievement.

NASA has assembled the core stage of the SLS rocket for the Artemis III mission, preparing for the lunar launch targeted in 2027.