Lockheed Martin Finalizes Orion Spacecraft for Artemis II Lunar Mission

Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the assembly and testing of NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, officially handing it over to NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team. This marks a critical milestone for NASA and its industry partners as they move closer to launching four astronauts on a mission aimed at advancing human exploration and scientific discovery on the Moon—laying the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.

Orion is the most advanced spacecraft ever designed for human deep space travel. As the primary contractor, Lockheed Martin was responsible for building the crew module, its adaptor, and the launch abort system.

“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our teams and supply partners who have worked relentlessly to reach this point,” said Kirk Shireman, Vice President of Human Space Exploration and Orion Program Manager at Lockheed Martin. “Completing the Orion spacecraft for Artemis II is a vital step toward establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon. It’s thrilling to imagine astronauts soon witnessing Earthrise from our spacecraft while journeying farther into space than ever before.”

Upgraded for Crew Onboard

The uncrewed EFT-1 and Artemis I missions served as initial steps in confirming the functionality of Orion’s core systems. Artemis II will be the spacecraft’s first crewed deep space mission, incorporating valuable insights and major upgrades based on findings from Artemis I.

To ensure crew safety and well-being, several new systems have been integrated. These include life support systems for air, water, temperature regulation, and waste management, as well as onboard displays, controls, audio communication, an exercise device, and a fully operational Launch Abort System. The spacecraft is also equipped with select docking sensors and a prototype laser communication system, designed to support high-speed data transmission and lay the groundwork for future exploration missions.

Path to Launch

With Orion now completed, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team will begin final launch preparations. The spacecraft will soon be transferred from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center to several processing sites.

There, the team will load essential propellants and consumables like water and oxygen, as well as install the launch abort system and its protective fairings. Once these steps are completed, Orion will be moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building, mounted onto the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and readied for its upcoming launch.

Historic Artemis Flight

Set to launch in early 2026, the Artemis II mission will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard the Orion spacecraft. Their 10-day mission will take them 4,600 miles beyond the Moon before returning to Earth.

Throughout the mission, the crew will assess Orion’s performance, test its communication and navigation systems, and carry out scientific experiments. They will also conduct a rendezvous maneuver with the SLS upper stage, practicing docking procedures essential for future missions, including Artemis III—which aims to achieve the first human lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.

With the Artemis II Orion spacecraft now complete, Lockheed Martin is continuing development on future vehicles. Work on Artemis III and IV is underway in the Operations and Checkout Building, while the pressure vessel for a subsequent mission is being welded at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Lockheed Martin is contracted to produce Orion spacecraft through Artemis VIII and has successfully reduced costs with each successive build.