Artemis II Unofficial mission hub

Spacecraft

SLS and Orion

Two pillars of Artemis: a heavy-lift rocket that can send Orion toward the Moon in a single launch, and a crew vehicle designed to sustain astronauts in deep space and bring them home.

In NASA’s words

SLS is NASA’s heavy-lift launch vehicle for Artemis. Orion carries and sustains crew beyond low Earth orbit and returns them safely to Earth. After Artemis I’s uncrewed flight, both vehicles flew with crew for the first time on Artemis II. The Artemis II crew named their Orion crew module Integrity.

Artemis II SLS and Orion rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building NASA / Brandon Hancock

Space Launch System

SLS

NASA’s heavy-lift rocket for Artemis. For Artemis II it rolled to Pad 39B stacked with Orion, then lofted the crew on their deep-space test flight. The Block 1 configuration uses twin solid rocket boosters, a core stage, and an interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) for translunar injection.

  • RoleHeavy-lift launch vehicle for Orion and deep-space missions
  • PadLaunch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center
  • Artemis pathUncrewed on Artemis I; crewed on Artemis II
Artemis II Orion spacecraft during vacuum chamber testing NASA

Crew vehicle

Orion

Orion is the exploration spacecraft that carries astronauts beyond low Earth orbit. The crew module (named Integrity for Artemis II) works with ESA’s European Service Module, which provides power, propulsion, and consumables for the lunar journey.

  • RoleCrew transport, habitation, and Earth return
  • Crew moduleIntegrity (Artemis II)
  • PartnersNASA crew module; ESA European Service Module
  • Test focusLife support, navigation, communications, heat shield, recovery
Artemis-era SLS and Orion night launch photography from Kennedy Space Center NASA / Joel Kowsky — Artemis I launch photography (SLS/Orion heritage)

Heritage launch photography of SLS and Orion (Artemis I) sits beside Artemis II flight imagery in our gallery — same vehicle family, different mission.

Family & kids

Build & compare

Label the stack

Print or sketch the rocket. Mark the boosters, core stage, upper stage (ICPS), and Orion at the top.

LEGO night

Build a tall rocket. Count the stages. Talk about why empty stages separate after they finish pushing.

Heat shield talk

Coming home is fast and hot. Ask: what protects the crew when Orion hits Earth’s atmosphere?