Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion
Architecture of a Moon Mission
The Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built, designed specifically to carry Orion and crew directly to the Moon in a single launch — a capability no other vehicle currently offers. The rocket consists of a core stage powered by four RS-25 engines (originally used on Space Shuttle missions), two solid rocket boosters, and the ICPS upper stage. Orion, the crew capsule, is equipped with a European Service Module (ESM) provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), marking a significant international contribution to the mission.
- SLS Block 1 produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff — more than the Saturn V Moon rocket
- The Orion capsule's heat shield is designed to withstand reentry temperatures of around 2,760°C (5,000°F) from a lunar-return trajectory
- Artemis I (November 2022) was an uncrewed test flight that orbited the Moon; Artemis II is the first crewed mission in the program
- The European Service Module (ESM) provides propulsion, power, thermal control, and consumables (water, oxygen) during the mission
● Tracked since April 01, 2026 · last seen April 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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