Amentum Leads Artemis II Rocket Rollout, Advancing NASA’s Lunar Mission Preparations

CHANTILLY, VA — Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) has successfully led a major milestone in preparation for NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission with the triumphant rollout of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This action marks a key phase in finalizing the mission’s launch readiness and highlights Amentum’s central role in supporting NASA’s most ambitious crewed lunar flyby mission to date.

Introduction to Artemis II Mission and the Rollout Event

The Artemis II mission represents a pivotal moment in NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program. Unlike Artemis I, which was uncrewed, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on an approximately 10-day voyage around the Moon before returning to Earth. To set the stage for this human spaceflight, NASA partners worked for months to integrate and assemble the SLS rocket and Orion crew capsule inside the VAB, culminating in the extensive rollout operation.

Amentum led the operation to transport the fully stacked SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft from the protective confines of the massive 525-foot-tall VAB to the launch pad at LC-39B, a journey covering several miles over the course of many hours. This careful and slow-moving process was executed using NASA’s iconic crawler-transporter — a massive vehicle designed to support extraordinary weight and precise alignment throughout the move.

Amentum’s Engineering Expertise and Mission Support

Amentum provided extensive engineering expertise, operational coordination, and technical support throughout the rollout process. As part of NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program, Amentum’s role encompasses:

• Maintaining and modernizing critical ground support equipment at Kennedy Space Center.
• Integrating and testing launch vehicles and spacecraft elements.
• Supporting launch operations, recovery efforts, and mission systems integration.
• Coordinating with NASA teams and other contractors to ensure safety and timeline adherence.

According to Amentum’s leadership, the successful rollout was made possible by the firm’s deep experience in managing mission-critical engineering and complex systems. Mark Walter, President of Amentum’s Engineering & Technology business, emphasized that this accomplishment demonstrated “the engineering expertise and operational discipline that made this milestone possible, ensuring Artemis II’s progress towards launch preparations and advancing our nation’s human space exploration mission.”

Ground Systems and Crawler-Transporter Operations

A centerpiece of the rollout event was the operation of the crawler-transporter, a massive piece of ground support infrastructure capable of moving enormous payloads weighing millions of pounds. This transporter carried the hardware at a carefully controlled pace of less than 1 mile per hour, slowly advancing along its route from the VAB to LC-39B over the course of a full day.

Operating the crawler requires continuous systems monitoring, precise engineering coordination, and seamless communication among teams. Amentum engineers and technicians were integral in overseeing these operations, ensuring that every mechanical, electrical, and structural system performed reliably during the trek. Safety was paramount throughout the procession, as NASA’s most powerful rocket and crew-capable spacecraft were transported in one integrated stack.

Once the stack reached Launch Complex 39B, teams began positioning it on the launch mount ahead of extensive pad readiness checks, systems testing, and final preparations ahead of the scheduled liftoff window.

NASA’s Artemis Program: Context and Goals

The Artemis program is NASA’s multi-phase initiative to return humans to the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. Artemis II represents the second major mission under this program and the first to carry astronauts around the Moon, building on the success of Artemis I’s uncrewed lunar orbit flight.

During the Artemis II mission, the Orion spacecraft will transport four crew members — three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) — on a lunar flyby mission before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. This mission tests multiple spacecraft systems under operational crewed conditions, providing valuable insights for future Artemis missions including Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the Moon’s surface.

Final Preparations and Launch Readiness Activities

With the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft now at Launch Complex 39B, NASA and its partners are transitioning into the final stages of launch preparations. These activities include:

• Pad Integration: Securing and configuring systems at the pad to interface with the launch stack.
• System Checkouts: Testing electrical, propulsion, communications, and flight systems to confirm readiness.
• Wet Dress Rehearsals: Practicing fueling and countdown procedures under simulated launch conditions.
• Final Safety Inspections: Ensuring every technical and safety requirement is met before committing to a launch date.

These tasks are critical to verifying that both rocket and spacecraft systems are ready to withstand the stresses of launch and spaceflight. Ensuring meticulous validation of every subsystem helps protect the crew and increases the likelihood of mission success.

Significance of the Rollout to Artemis II’s Progress

The Artemis II rollout event is more than a mechanical transfer; it symbolizes the culmination of years of hardware preparation, testing, and teamwork across government, industry, and international partners. Bringing the integrated rocket and spacecraft to the launch pad marks a visible and symbolic step closer to realizing NASA’s vision of sustainable lunar exploration.

For the workforce at Kennedy Space Center and beyond, witnessing the giant stack arrive at LC-39B represents the combined efforts of scientists, engineers, technicians, and support personnel — all working toward the shared goal of returning humans to the Moon.

Amentum’s Broader Role in NASA Missions

Amentum’s contributions extend beyond rollout operations; the company supports NASA missions with advanced engineering in launch vehicle integration, ground system modernization, and mission planning. This includes systems integration, launch vehicle processing, pad operations, and recovery support — all critical aspects of mission execution under the EGS program.

By bridging complex technical systems with operational excellence, Amentum continues to demonstrate the capabilities that make it a trusted partner for government, aerospace agencies, and international collaborators.

Looking Ahead: Artemis II and Beyond

As the rollout transitions into launch preparations, attention now turns to the remaining milestones before liftoff. With launch windows anticipated in early 2026, NASA and Amentum are focused on completing final checkouts, rehearsals, and crew readiness activities.

The success of Artemis II has implications far beyond a single mission. It lays the foundation for future lunar surface missions, long-duration stays in cislunar space, and eventual journeys to Mars. Each step forward in the Artemis program builds institutional knowledge, strengthens international partnerships, and inspires a new generation of explorers.

With the Artemis II rollout complete, the world watches as NASA and its partners prepare to push human space exploration into its next bold chapter — one that will carry explorers farther than humans have ever traveled before.

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