Boeing Core Stage Powers First Crewed Artemis Mission Around the Moon

NASA’s Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center with the Boeing built Space Launch System core stage providing the primary propulsion for the first crewed lunar flight in more than fifty years. The core stage completed its ascent sequence as planned, enabling the Orion spacecraft, Integrity, to begin a ten day mission around the Moon.

Demonstrating Performance on a High Visibility Human Spaceflight Mission

The SLS core stage executed all major flight operations, including pre launch tanking, hydraulic system activation, engine ignition, thrust vector control, main stage burn, fuel depletion, engine shutdown, and separation. Boeing engineers emphasized that the vehicle performed to design expectations, meeting the safety and reliability requirements associated with crewed deep space missions.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are now conducting the first human lunar flyby of the Artemis program. The mission is intended to validate systems and procedures ahead of future lunar surface operations.

Industrial Base Contributions Across the United States

The core stage stands 212 feet tall and incorporates a 196,000 gallon liquid oxygen tank, a 537,000 gallon liquid hydrogen tank, an intertank structure, a forward skirt, and an engine section housing four RS 25 engines that together generate 2.2 million pounds of thrust. Boeing manufactures the stage at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans using components sourced from suppliers in more than thirty eight states, reflecting the broad industrial footprint of the SLS program.

Preparing Hardware for Future Artemis Missions

Boeing teams are already producing the next core stages for Artemis III through Artemis V. These missions will support NASA’s plans for sustained lunar operations, including crewed landings and expanded infrastructure in cislunar space. The company continues to refine production processes at Michoud and Kennedy to support long term program cadence.

Commitment to Human Spaceflight and Exploration

Boeing leadership highlighted the significance of the Artemis II launch as a milestone in restoring U.S. crewed deep space capability. The company noted that the SLS program remains central to NASA’s strategy for lunar exploration and future missions beyond the Earth Moon system.

As one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, Boeing continues to invest in technologies and production systems that support human spaceflight, national space priorities, and commercial space growth.