--- title: "Rocket Assembly for the Moon Landing: NASA Begins Preparation for the Artemis III Mission" description: "NASA has begun active assembly of the SLS rocket for the Artemis III mission πŸš€. At the Kennedy Space Center, solid rocket boosters are being installed and the Orion spacecraft is being upgraded. The goal is to test technologies for a lunar landing in 2028 πŸŒ‘πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ." date: 2026-07-18T13:52:57.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rocket-assembly-for-the-moon-landing-nasa-begins-preparation-for-the-artemis-iii-mission tags: [nasa, artemis-iii, sls, space-launch-system, kennedy-space-center] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Rocket Assembly for the Moon Landing: NASA Begins Preparation for the Artemis III Mission ![Assembly of SLS rocket engines for the Artemis III mission at NASA's facility](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/18/nasa-nachalo-sborku-rakety-dlya-missii-artemis-iii/nasa-nachalo-sborku-rakety-dlya-missii-artemis-iii-1.webp) New activity is unfolding at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Less than three months after the successful completion of the Artemis II mission, NASA engineers have begun a critical phase of preparation: the assembly of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the next crewed expedition β€” Artemis III. This event marks the transition from the technology testing phase to the active preparation of a real flight, which is set to return humanity to the lunar surface. Work is underway simultaneously at several key locations within the center. ### Assembly in the Giant VAB The main process is taking place inside the legendary Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). In July, specialists began installing the first segments of the left solid rocket booster. These are massive structures that provide the primary thrust during launch. The remaining booster components arrived at the center back in June by rail. They are currently undergoing rigorous inspection, processing, and the application of special protective coatings. Once preparation is complete, they will be sequentially transported to the VAB, where they will be installed on the upgraded mobile launcher platform. This platform was already used for the Artemis II mission and has undergone necessary repairs and updates. ### Engine and Core Stage Installation Simultaneously, the assembly of the rocket's core stage is underway. Key milestones were reached back in the spring: in May, specialists mated the main fuel tank with the engine section. In June, the first two RS-25 engines were delivered to the facility β€” legendary powerplants proven by time. Once the remaining two engines are delivered to the site, they will be installed on the stage. This will complete the assembly of the rocket's core section, after which the integration of all elements into a single complex and subsequent testing will begin. ### Training for the Flight Control Team Preparation is underway not only for the "hardware" but also for the people. At the Rocco Petrone Launch Control Center, teams have been conducting full-scale countdown rehearsals monthly since May. Engineers and operators are practicing procedures for fueling the rocket and, most importantly, the final 10 minutes before launch. Such rehearsals allow for the coordination of actions to be honed to automation before the actual operation. ### Final Assembly of the Orion Spacecraft In the adjacent Operations and Checkout Building (OCB), specialists have completed the installation of the heat shield for the crewed Orion spacecraft. This is a highly complex structure consisting of 186 blocks of Avcoat ablative material. Each block undergoes individual inspection. The shield design was refined by analyzing data from the uncrewed Artemis I mission. The goal of the changes is to ensure more uniform properties of the thermal protection material across the entire surface of the spacecraft, which is critical for crew safety during re-entry. Furthermore, the Orion service module successfully passed acoustic testing. During the tests, the vehicle was subjected to powerful sound simulating launch loads. The structure's response was recorded using thousands of sensors. After the heat shield is installed, specialists will proceed with the final integration of the crew and service modules. ### Mission Goals and Looking Ahead According to NASA's current plan, the Artemis III mission will take place next year. However, the primary goal of this flight will not be a lunar landing, but the testing of technologies in low Earth orbit. The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft will perform a rendezvous and docking test with prototype versions of commercial lunar landers. This data is necessary for preparing for the Artemis IV mission, within the framework of which the first landing of astronauts on the lunar surface in the last half-century is planned for 2028.