Boeing Core Stage Powers Artemis II, Bolstering NASA's Lunar Program
Event summary
- Boeing-built core stage successfully powered NASA's Artemis II mission, launching April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center.
- The Artemis II mission carries a crew of four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – on a 10-day lunar journey.
- The core stage, manufactured at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, utilizes components from suppliers across 38 states.
- The core stage includes a 196,000-gallon liquid oxygen tank and a 537,000-gallon liquid hydrogen tank, along with four RS-25 engines producing 2.2 million pounds of thrust.
- Boeing is currently producing core stages for Artemis III through V missions.
The big picture
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in NASA's renewed focus on lunar exploration and a critical win for Boeing, demonstrating the viability of the Space Launch System. This program, backed by billions in government funding, is a cornerstone of U.S. space policy and a key driver of revenue for Boeing's Defense, Space & Security segment. However, the program's long-term success hinges on consistent execution and continued political support.
What we're watching
- Execution Risk
- The successful Artemis II mission reduces near-term execution risk for Boeing's SLS core stage program, but continued production of Artemis III-V stages will be critical to maintaining momentum and avoiding further delays.
- Government Funding
- Future funding for NASA's Artemis program, and by extension Boeing's core stage contracts, remains subject to congressional appropriations and potential shifts in national priorities.
- Competitive Landscape
- While Boeing currently holds a dominant position in SLS core stage production, the emergence of alternative launch providers and technologies could eventually erode its market share.
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