NASA’s Pegasus Barge

NASA is inviting a limited number of media to capture imagery of NASA’s Pegasus Barge and the offload and transport of the Space Launch System’s (SLS) rocket core stage as it arrives at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late-April in preparation for the Artemis I launch.

After successfully completing the comprehensive Green Run test series to ensure it is ready for Artemis missions, the world’s largest rocket stage is preparing to voyage to the Florida spaceport’s wharf from Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

Upon arrival, teams from Kennedy’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) and primary contractor, Jacobs, will offload the 212-foot piece of Artemis I flight hardware and transport it to the Vehicle Assembly Building. There, it will join the solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher. Once stacked, additional flight components will be integrated with the core stage and boosters along with the Orion spacecraft.

Experts from the SLS Program, EGS Program, Jacobs, and Boeing will be available to answer questions.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a limited number of media will be permitted to participate in this event. The agency is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency’s chief health and medical officer, and will immediately communicate any updates that may impact media access for these activities.

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will test the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket as an integrated system ahead of crewed flights to the Moon. Under the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and establish sustainable exploration in preparation for missions to Mars.