Nasa’s top official says the rocket expected to power the next mission to the moon is about 90% complete.
Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke during a visit to a facility in New Orleans where the core stage is being built.
The 212-foot-tall core stage is made up of two liquid propellant tanks and four RS-25 engines.
In the months to come, the engine section will be attached to the rest of the core section. If all goes well, it will power the Artemis 1 test flight in 2020.
Plans call for the rocket to carry a crewless Orion capsule in a double loop around the moon during 25-and-a-half days in flight.
Named for the mythological Greek Moon goddess and twin of Apollo, #Artemis will carry humanity back to the Moon — this time, for good — before we launch to Mars and to the unexplored beyond. Get the latest updates and more, straight to your inbox: https://t.co/jdchdaUOCL pic.twitter.com/vmop0BML2e
— NASA (@NASA) August 13, 2019
Future missions are expected to carry US astronauts, including the first female astronaut to land on the moon.
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