Artemis Support Systems
Launch Facilities
The SLS, which will carry the Orion crew capsule for Artemis missions, will launch from Launch Complex 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Renovations at 39-B to prepare for Artemis are complete. Prior to the renovations for Artemis, the last use of pad 39-B was the Ares I-X test flight on 28 October 2009.
Launch pad 39B (NASA)
Crawler-Transporter
Two massive transporter-crawlers have served NASA for over 50 years, supporting both the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. Crawler-Transporter 2 will be an integral part of the Artemis program.
Crawler-Transporter 2 (NASA) (click to enlarge)
Facts about the crawler (from NASA):
- Weight: Approximately 6.6 million pounds (or the weight of about 15 Statues of Liberty or 1,000 pickup trucks).
- Height: Varies from approximately 20 feet to 26 feet, based on the position of the jacking, equalization and leveling cylinders.
- Load Capacity: Able to transport 18 million pounds (or the weight of more than 20 fully loaded 777 airplanes).
Mobile Launcher
According to NASA, the mobile launcher is the ground structure that will be used to assemble, process and launch NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from Launch Pad 39B. You can learn more about the mobile launcher from ths Mobile Launcher Fact Sheet from NASA.
Mobile Launcher on the crawler(NASA)
Orion Recovery Operations
Orion is designed for water landings. Crews may be recovered either while the Orion is still in open water, or after Orion is within the well deck of an amphibious naval ship. The process is described in a pdf but out by NASA, Orion Recovery Operations.
Space Suits
Two different types of space suits are being prepared for the Artemis program. One suit is for use within the Orion spacecraft, and the xEMU is being readied for use on lunar excursions.
Left: Orion spacesuit Right: xEMU spacesuit (NASA)
On 10 August 2021, CBS News reported:
"The next-generation spacesuits needed by the first moonwalkers in NASA's Artemis program will not be available until 2025 at the earliest
and will have cost more than $1 billion to develop, the agency's Office of Inspector General reported Tuesday."
Page last modified: 01 November 2021 10:01:45.
