Building Artemis

Every state in America has contributed to building Artemis, with companies hard at work to build the systems that will help establish a long-term human presence at the Moon. Contributions from men and women across America and in Europe are critical to the space economy, fueling new industries and technologies, supporting job growth, and furthering the demand for a highly skilled workforce.

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Orion Environmental Testing

Testing at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio confirmed the Orion spacecraft’s systems performed as designed for Artemis missions. A thermal vacuum test simulated flying in and out of sunlight and shadow in space, and an electromagnetic interference and compatibility test ensured the spacecraft’s electronics work properly when operated at the same time.

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Parachute Testing in Arizona

Testing at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona included eight tests to qualify Orion’s parachute system under a variety of landing scenarios and aerodynamic conditions. Eleven parachutes will slow Orion from about 325 mph to about 20 mph in about 10 minutes as Orion descends through Earth’s atmosphere for splashdown into the ocean.

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Launch Abort System Testing

Orion’s launch abort system was tested in a pad abort test from a launch pad, as well as in an ascent abort scenario to validate the system when the spacecraft faces the greatest aerodynamic forces during ascent. The system is designed to carry the crew module to safety in the event of an emergency during launch or ascent atop the SLS rocket.

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Water Impact Tests

Water impact testing in the hydro impact basin at the Landing and Impact Research Facility at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, provides high fidelity data of the forces that the Orion spacecraft structure and its astronaut crew would experience during a water landing after its mission around the Moon.

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Orion Structural Testing

Structural testing in Denver confirmed Orion’s design is sound and the spacecraft is ready for deep-space missions. Tests ensured the spacecraft structures can withstand intense loads and vibrational forces at launch and entry, as well as the powerful pyrotechnic blasts needed for critical separation events, and even potential lightning strikes.

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SLS Structural Testing

The structural testing campaign for the SLS rocket at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama verified the structures of the core stage and upper part of the rocket can survive flight. Test cases included baseline tests to simulate forces expected during flight and tests to determine the design limits and breaking point of the fuel tanks.

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SLS RS-25 Engine Testing

Tests at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, confirmed the RS-25 engines can perform at the power level needed to launch the super heavy-lift SLS rocket. Tests with development engines also evaluated new parts for future engines made with advanced manufacturing techniques to increase reliability and sustainability of the engines.

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SLS Booster Testing

The SLS solid rocket boosters completed test firings in a horizontal position at Northrop Grumman’s facility in in Promontory, Utah. Teams have started testing small solid rocket motors that will help the agency build next-generation solid rocket boosters for future SLS flights.

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SLS Green Run Testing

Green Run testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi consisted of an eight-part test campaign to validate the integrated design of the core stage of the SLS rocket for flight. The test series culminated with all four RS-25 engines firing at the same time for more than eight minutes to simulate launch and ascent.

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Verification and Validation of Mobile Launcher and Launch Pad 39B

The mobile launcher – the 380-foot-tall structure used to assemble, process and launch SLS – completed a series of tests in the Vehicle Assembly Building and at Launch Pad 39B. Testing included checks of the sound suppression system, cryogenic fuel system, and lines that provide power, environmental control, communication and more to the rocket and spacecraft.

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