CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. : Northrop Grumman’s five-segment solid rocket boosters will provide the primary propulsion for NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), scheduled to launch from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center as early as February 6, 2026.
Artemis II will mark the first human mission to travel beyond the Moon since the Apollo era and the first time astronauts fly aboard the SLS rocket. The mission is a key step in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence at the Moon and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars.
Largest Solid Rocket Boosters for Human Spaceflight
The twin boosters, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, each stand 177 feet tall and generate approximately 3.6 million pounds of thrust, for a combined 7.2 million pounds at liftoff. They are the largest and most powerful solid rocket boosters ever used on a human spaceflight mission.
The five-segment boosters are derived from the four-segment solid rocket motors used on NASA’s Space Shuttle but incorporate design upgrades to meet the performance requirements of the heavier SLS rocket. During the uncrewed Artemis I mission in November 2022, the boosters provided more than 75 percent of the total thrust at launch and performed as designed throughout ascent. For Artemis II, they will again operate as a synchronized pair, igniting at liftoff and burning for just over two minutes before separating and falling into the Atlantic Ocean.
NASA’s SLS rocket generates a total of about 8.8 million pounds of thrust at launch, with the remaining thrust supplied by four RS-25 liquid-fuel engines on the rocket’s core stage. According to Northrop Grumman, the solid rocket boosters are a central element of SLS performance, providing the initial power needed to lift the fully fueled vehicle and Orion spacecraft off the launch pad.
Launch Abort and Crew Safety Systems
In addition to the boosters, Northrop Grumman supplies critical components of the Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System. The company builds both the abort motor, which can rapidly pull the crew capsule away from the rocket in an emergency, and the attitude control motor, which steers the capsule during an abort scenario.
The Launch Abort System will be fully active for Artemis II, marking the first operational use of the system on a crewed SLS mission. Designed to protect astronauts during the most dynamic phases of launch and ascent, the system can activate within milliseconds if a serious anomaly is detected.
Jim Kalberer, vice president of propulsion systems at Northrop Grumman, said the company’s propulsion hardware supplies the majority of SLS liftoff thrust. He stated that the performance of the solid rocket boosters is a critical factor in enabling NASA’s deep space exploration plans, including long-term lunar operations and future missions to Mars.
Artemis II Mission Profile
Artemis II is planned as an approximately 10-day mission carrying a four-person crew aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The mission will send the astronauts on a trajectory around the Moon without landing, allowing NASA to test life-support systems, navigation, communications, and crew operations in deep space conditions.
The flight will validate upgrades made following Artemis I, including refinements to Orion’s heat shield, environmental control systems, and onboard software. Data collected during Artemis II will be used to certify the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for future lunar landing missions under the Artemis program.
Ongoing Role in Artemis and Deep Space Exploration
Beyond Artemis II, Northrop Grumman is expected to continue supporting NASA’s Artemis missions through propulsion, flight systems, and deep space infrastructure. The company is building the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module for the Gateway lunar outpost, which will orbit the Moon and support long-duration crewed missions.
Northrop Grumman is also developing a next-generation solid rocket booster intended to enhance performance and efficiency for future SLS configurations. These upgrades are aimed at supporting more demanding missions, including sustained lunar operations and eventual crewed missions to Mars.
With Artemis II approaching its targeted launch window, the mission represents a major milestone in NASA’s return to human deep space exploration, combining legacy solid rocket motor technology with new systems designed for long-term operations beyond low Earth orbit.
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