Inside Orion — your quarterly update on the Orion program as we prepare for the 2026 Artemis II launch

Welcome to a special edition of Vector Star: Inside Orion — your quarterly update on the Orion program as we prepare for the 2026 Artemis II launch. As the cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis program, Orion is the only spacecraft capable of taking humans into deep space and back, making it a critical component of our nation’s space exploration efforts.

Orion Finalized for NASA’s Artemis II Mission

The Orion spacecraft we built for NASA’s Artemis II mission is officially complete and has been transferred to NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team.

Successful Power On Paves Way for Artemis III

The Orion team recently powered on the Artemis III spacecraft’s computers for the very first time. Orion’s core avionic systems, often referred to as the ‘brain and heart’ of the vehicle, were powered up and are now undergoing testing to ensure the crew module subsystems are safe and reliable for flight.

The Orion spacecraft we built for NASA’s Artemis II mission is officially complete and has been transferred to NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team. As we look ahead to the 2026 launch, this milestone brings us one step closer to sending astronauts around the Moon on a historic 10-day journey.

The EGS team will now prepare Orion for launch, loading propellants, installing the launch abort system and getting it stacked atop the powerful SLS rocket.

Artemis II marks Orion’s first mission with astronauts aboard. Upgrades include new life support systems, audio communications and more, ensuring safety and comfort.

We are continuing to build Orion spacecraft for Artemis III through VIII, paving the way toward a long-term lunar presence and the first crewed missions to Mars. This milestone is a testament to our partnership with NASA and our shared vision for a sustainable presence in space, learn more: https://lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news…

Learn more about Orion: https://lockheedmartin.com/en-us/prod…

Source : Lockheed Martin

AeroMorning.com