NASA rolls out Artemis 3 SLS rocket's huge core stage to gear up for 2027 launch (photo)
By Mike Wall
Published on April 21, 2026.
NASA has moved the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket (SLS), which will launch Artemis 3 mission in 2027, from Michoud Assembly Facility to the Pegasus barge in New Orleans. The move is a significant step towards the launch of Artemis 3, which will test rendezvous and docking operations between NASA's capsule and one of the private lunar landers contracted for the Artemis program. The final integrated Artemis 3 SLS core stage will stand 212 feet tall, but was only 80% of its height due to missing a large engine section. This move is seen as a powerful reminder of NASA's progress towards returning humans to the lunar surface.
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