Artemis III core stage joins twin boosters at Kennedy Space Center

The short version

• Technicians at Kennedy Space Center integrated the Artemis III SLS core stage with twin solid rocket boosters on October 25, 2026.[NASA News]
• The stacked vehicle is slated to roll to Launch Pad 39B for a tanking test and countdown rehearsal.[NASA News]
• The Artemis III crew of three NASA astronauts and one ESA astronaut will test Orion rendezvous and docking with commercial spacecraft from SpaceX and Blue Origin.[NASA News]
• The tanking test is planned only after remaining testing and checkouts are complete, and the reporting gives no date.[NASA News]

Key facts

• The SLS core stage was lifted from the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle on October 22, 2026.[NASA News]
• The core stage was integrated with twin solid rocket booster motor segments on October 25, 2026, completing the short stack configuration.[NASA News]
• Technicians lifted the 212-foot core stage from High Bay 2 using a specialized lifting beam.[NASA News]
• A tanking test at Launch Pad 39B will load liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen only into the core stage, to practice countdown procedures.[NASA News]
• Artemis III will carry NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, plus ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.[NASA News]
• The mission will test Orion rendezvous and docking with commercial spacecraft from Blue Origin and SpaceX.[NASA News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Artemis III SLS Core Stage Joins Boosters at KennedyNASA News