Boeing-built Core Stage space launch system powers first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon

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NASA’s Artemis II mission paves the way for a future moon landing
Future rockets currently in production.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida., April 1, 2026 NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, powered by Boeing [NYSE: BA] -Central stage built, takeoff at 6:35 pm ET. Eight and a half minutes into the flight, the core stage successfully completed its mission and separated from the rocket’s upper stage, allowing NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Integrity, to carry humanity around the moon.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will fly with Integrity on a 10-day lunar journey.

“We are honored to support NASA in restoring a capability vital to our nation’s interests and future,” said Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Boeing and our Space Launch System partners are committed to NASA’s mission to return astronauts to the Moon, establish a sustained lunar presence, and continue our deep space exploration.”

The core stage demonstrated several major operations, including refueling both tanks prior to launch, actuating the hydraulic system, firing the engines, executing in-flight thrust vector control programs, emptying the fuel tanks, shutting down the engines, and successfully performing separation and disposal maneuvers.

“Today we witnessed our friends embark on a historic mission aboard our rocket,” said John Shannon, vice president of Boeing’s Exploration Systems business. “Our approach has been to prioritize vehicle quality and crew safety as it begins its journey. This rocket is designed to withstand incredible forces as it accelerates through the atmosphere, and it performed exactly as expected. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated team and partners for their hard work in making this part of the mission a success.”

The rocket’s core stage sits at 212 feet (nearly 65 meters) and consists of a 196,000-gallon liquid oxygen tank and a 537,000-gallon liquid hydrogen tank. It also includes an inter-tank section that joins the two fuel tanks, a forward apron that connects to the upper stage, and a lower engine section with four RS-25 engines, which together produce 2.2 million pounds of thrust. A Boeing team manufactures the core stage at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, using components made by suppliers in more than 38 states.

The Boeing team is preparing the next core stages for the Artemis III through V missions, which are already in production at Michoud and Kennedy.

Boeing, a leading global aerospace company and the largest U.S. exporter, develops, manufactures and services commercial aircraft, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our workforce and supplier base in the U.S. and around the world drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com