NASA has begun stacking components for the Artemis III Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center, with the arrival this week of one of two solid rocket booster segments to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The Artemis III mission targets a mid-to-late 2027 launch and will carry four astronauts to low Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft, where they'll test rendezvous and docking procedures with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. These test flights are preparation for crewed lunar landings planned for the Artemis IV mission in late 2028.
Each solid rocket booster stands 177 feet tall and generates 3.6 million pounds of thrust combined, providing over 75% of the SLS rocket's power at liftoff. The Artemis III core stage arrived at the VAB in May without its engine section, which will be attached before other major components are stacked. NASA expects to complete a wet dress rehearsal before year's end. The assembly process took roughly one year for Artemis II, giving the Artemis III team a similar timeline as additional booster segments and hardware continue arriving at the facility.