NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) core stage for the Artemis II mission has successfully arrived at the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building after a 900-mile journey from the Michoud Assembly Facility.

This core stage is a crucial component of NASA's second SLS rocket, which is being prepared for stacking ahead of the Artemis II mission.

Despite previous delays, the SLS's performance during the Artemis I mission has been praised, bolstering confidence for upcoming missions.

The Artemis II launch date has been pushed back nearly a year due to issues identified after the uncrewed Artemis I mission, particularly concerns regarding Orion's heat shield.

Scheduled for September 2025, the Artemis II mission will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, marking the first human voyage near the Moon since 1972.

The crew for Artemis II includes NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The 212-foot-tall core stage was transferred from the Pegasus barge onto a self-propelled module transporter for further processing at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA is making significant progress toward the Artemis II launch, with necessary adapter hardware already completed and awaiting shipment.

Andre Douglas, who recently became eligible for NASA spaceflight assignments, has been named the backup for the Artemis II mission.

Douglas expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to NASA's missions, emphasizing the importance of safety and thoroughness in space exploration.

According to NASA's Office of the Inspector General, the Artemis III mission may cost $93 billion since its inception, with the SLS rocket alone accounting for $23.8 billion.

Looking ahead, NASA is already working on the core stage for Artemis III and the Block 1B version of the SLS for Artemis IV, which is planned for 2028.