The first umbilical – one of many swing arms that will provide power, communications, and propellants to a larger configuration of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket – for the agency’s mobile launcher 2 (ML2) arrives at the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 28, 2021. The umbilical will go through rounds of testing at the LETF to verify it functions properly before getting installed on the ML2 tower. This particular umbilical will provide propellants, environmental control systems, and a variety of purge gasses to the rocket’s Exploration Upper Stage. ML2 will be used to launch SLS Block 1B and Block 2 configurations to the Moon, starting with the Artemis IV mission, allowing NASA to send astronauts and heavy cargo to the lunar surface.
First Umbilical for ML2
The first umbilical – one of many swing arms that will provide power, communications, and propellants to a larger configuration of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket – for the agency’s mobile launcher 2 (ML2) arrives at the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 28, 2021. The umbilical will go through rounds of testing at the LETF to verify it functions properly before getting installed on the ML2 tower. This particular umbilical will provide propellants, environmental control systems, and a variety of purge gasses to the rocket’s Exploration Upper Stage. ML2 will be used to launch SLS Block 1B and Block 2 configurations to the Moon, starting with the Artemis IV mission, allowing NASA to send astronauts and heavy cargo to the lunar surface.
First Umbilical for ML2
Teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and Bechtel National, Inc., the prime contractor for NASA’s mobile launcher 2, continue construction on the new mobile launcher at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Once completed and able to be carried atop the crawler-transporter, the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 will be used during assembly, processing, and launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery and Walkdown
With NASA’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building in the background, teams with the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc. continue construction on the base of the platform for the new mobile launcher at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Once completed and able to be carried atop the crawler-transporter, the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 will be used during assembly, processing, and launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery and Walkdown
Teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and Bechtel National, Inc., the prime contractor for NASA’s mobile launcher 2, continue construction on the new mobile launcher at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Once completed and able to be carried atop the crawler-transporter, the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 will be used during assembly, processing, and launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery and Walkdown
With NASA’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building in the background, teams with the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc. continue construction on the base of the platform for the new mobile launcher at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Once completed and able to be carried atop the crawler-transporter, the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 will be used during assembly, processing, and launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery and Walkdown
Teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., pose for a photo near construction of a permanent mount structure where they will continue building the agency’s new mobile launcher 2 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 with a two-story base and a tower will be used to assemble and process the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery
This infographic explains NASA’s mobile launchers designed for the agency's Artemis missions to send the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and large payloads to the Moon in a single launch.
ML-1 and ML-2 Comparison Infographic
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., continue moving the base structure of mobile launcher 2 to a permanent mount structure where assembly will be completed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 with a two-story base and a tower will be used to assemble and process the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., continue moving the base structure of mobile launcher 2 to a permanent mount structure where assembly will be completed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 with a two-story base and a tower will be used to assemble and process the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery
This infographic explains NASA’s mobile launchers designed for the agency's Artemis missions to send the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and large payloads to the Moon in a single launch.
ML-1 and ML-2 Comparison Infographic
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., continue moving the base structure of mobile launcher 2 to a permanent mount structure where assembly will be completed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 with a two-story base and a tower will be used to assemble and process the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., continue moving the base structure of mobile launcher 2 to a permanent mount structure where assembly will be completed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 with a two-story base and a tower will be used to assemble and process the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery
With NASA’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building in the background, teams with the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor, Bechtel National, Inc. continue construction on the base of the platform for the new mobile launcher at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Once completed and able to be carried atop the crawler-transporter, the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher 2 will be used during assembly, processing, and launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon beginning with Artemis IV.
ML-2 Progress Imagery and Walkdown