Lockheed Martin completes Orion development for Artemis II

Source | Lockheed Martin

As of May 1, Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, Md., U.S.) has completed assembly and testing of NASA’s (Washington, D.C., U.S.) Orion Artemis II spacecraft, transferring possession to NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team today. The milestone is another step in the program as NASA prepares to launch a crew of four astronauts to further the agency's mission in establishing a human presence on the moon for exploration and scientific discovery. It will also help build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

What is Orion?

Orion is a human-rated, deep space spacecraft. Launching atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion will carry the crew to lunar orbit and safely return them to Earth on Artemis missions. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA built the crew module, crew module adaptor and launch abort system.

As reported in 2022 for Artemis I’s uncrewed Orion launch, the spacecraft features many composites innovations, including a European Service Module (ESM), which has a primary structure making high use of carbon fiber composites, a composite large connector (universal stage adapter) that links the launch vehicle and the service module, and a composite heat shield design.

Components of the Orion spacecraft. Source | NASA 

Uncrewed EFT-1 and Artemis I test flights were the first steps in validating the spacecraft’s core systems. Artemis II will put Orion through its final tests in deep space with a crew on board and will include learnings and significant enhancements gleaned from the Artemis I mission.

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To support the health and safety of the crew, new systems have been added, which include life support — air, water, thermal control, waste management — displays and controls, audio communications, an exercise machine and a fully functional launch abort system. Additionally, the vehicle is outfitted with a subset of docking sensors and an experimental laser communication system, enabling high data-rate communications and paving the way for future missions.

With the completion of Orion, the EGS team will perform final preparations on the spacecraft, readying it for launch. Orion will soon be moved from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to various processing facilities. This is where EGS will load propellants and other consumables, such as water and oxygen, and install the launch abort system and its protective fairings. Upon completion, it will then be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building, lifted onto the SLS rocket and undergo final preparations for launch.

Scheduled to launch in early 2026, Artemis II and the Orion spacecraft will host NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day journey will include flying 4,600 miles beyond the Moon and back to Earth.

During the mission, the crew will evaluate the spacecraft's performance, test its navigation and communication systems, and conduct a series of scientific experiments. They will perform a rendezvous operation with the SLS upper stage, practicing docking activities needed for future missions including Artemis III — which will mark the first human lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.

With work on Orion for Artemis II completed, Lockheed Martin continues to develop and assemble Orion spacecraft for future Artemis missions. Artemis III and IV vehicles are in the Operations and Checkout Building, while the pressure vessel is being welded at NASA’s Michoud Facility in New Orleans. Lockheed Martin is on contract to develop Orion spacecraft up to Artemis VIII and has decreased cost with each vehicle.