CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a worker performs the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers perform the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers perform the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers perform the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a worker performs the propellant grain inspection of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Exterior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

Interior View of ARF Manufacturing Building

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection and truing of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a worker makes sure the final solid rocket booster segments are level, balanced and concentric, which is a required safety analysis. Workers also will perform a propellant grain inspection. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection and truing of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection and truing of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection and truing of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers make sure the final solid rocket booster segments are level, balanced and concentric, which is a required safety analysis. Workers also will perform a propellant grain inspection. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the propellant grain inspection and truing of the final solid rocket booster segments, which is a required safety analysis. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility, or RSPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers make sure the final solid rocket booster segments are level, balanced and concentric, which is a required safety analysis. Workers also will perform a propellant grain inspection. The booster segments were manufactured at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah, and traveled to Kennedy along the Florida East Coast Railway. The booster segments will be stacked and then mated to space shuttle Atlantis and its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The segments will be used for what currently is planned as the 'launch on need,' or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

S84-35097 (May 1984) --- The Space Shuttle Orbiter 103 is about to be hoisted into a tail-toward-ground mode for mating to its two solid rocket boosters (SRB) and an external tank (ET) (awaiting the maneuver high out of frame) in the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) huge vehicle assembly building (VAB). After its arrival here from the manufacturer in Palmdale, California, Discovery underwent extensive pre-launch preparations in the nearby processing facility (OPF).

NASA joined the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage forward assembly with the 130-foot liquid hydrogen tank for the Artemis II mission on March 18. This completes assembly of four of the five large structures that make up the core stage that will help send the first astronauts to lunar orbit on Artemis II. The 66-foot forward assembly consists of the forward skirt, liquid oxygen tank and the intertank, which were mated earlier. Engineers inserted 360 bolts to connect the forward assembly to the liquid hydrogen tank to make up the bulk of the stage. Only the engine section, which is currently being outfitted and includes the main propulsion systems that connect to the four RS-25 engines, remains to be added to form the final core stage. All parts of the core stage are manufactured by NASA and Boeing, the core stage lead contractor at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Currently, the team is building core stages for three Artemis missions. The first core stage is stacked with the rest of the SLS rocket, which will launch the Artemis I mission to the Moon this year. Together with its twin solid rocket boosters, the core stage will produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust to send NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon. The SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft form the foundation for Artemis missions and future deep space exploration.