KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER, Fla., Nov. 16,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Space Launch System
rocket, powered by the Boeing [NYSE: BA] -built core stage, lifted
off at 1:47 a.m. ET from
the Kennedy Space Center.
Eight and a half minutes into flight, the core stage
completed its mission and separated from the upper stage of the
rocket, sending NASA's Orion spacecraft on its first journey around
the Moon.
"Today, this country now has a super-heavy lift launch
capability for the first time in 50 years," said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing's
Space and Launch division. "This test flight was a demonstration of
engineering innovation, and we are ready to support NASA and their
international partners in returning humans to deep space
exploration."
During the mission, the core stage demonstrated several
important functions, including fueling both tanks, actuating the
hydraulic system, igniting the engines, running thrust vector
control programs in flight, depleting the fuel tanks, shutting down
the engines, and conducting successful separation and disposal
maneuvers.
"It was an absolutely beautiful launch – visually and
technically," said John Shannon,
vice president and program manager of Boeing's SLS program. "This
rocket controls incredible forces while speeding through the
atmosphere. It performed the mission as we designed it to do, and
we thank our team and partners for all their hard work in making
this first launch a success."
The core stage of the rocket stands at 212 feet (almost 65
meters), and is comprised of a 196,000-gallon liquid oxygen, a
537,000-gallon liquid hydrogen tank, along with an intertank
section joining the two fuel reservoirs, a forward skirt on top
that connects to the upper stage, and an engine section with
four RS-25 engines combining for 2.2
million pounds of thrust. A Boeing team manufactures the core stage
at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, and uses components
made by more than 430 suppliers across the United States.
The Boeing team is preparing the next stages for their
respective flights. Core Stage-2, or CS-2, will launch the first
crew of the Artemis program and is in the final assembly area at
Michoud. CS-3 is manifested to launch the first crewed lunar
landing since Apollo, which will include the first woman and first
person of color. That stage, as well as CS-4, are already in work
at Michoud. Additionally, the structural test article of a newer,
more powerful upper stage known as the Exploration Upper Stage is
in fabrication.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops,
manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products
and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a
top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global
supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and
community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating
for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a
culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and
integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at
boeing.com/careers.
Contact
Media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing