www.nasa.gov

JULY – SEPTEMBER 2020

SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

LAUNCH VEHICLE 

STAGE ADAPTER 

DELIVERED
LAUNCH VEHICLE 

STAGE ADAPTER 

COMPLETES JOURNEY

The launch vehicle stage adapter (LVSA), which connects the core stage and upper stage, shipped on NASA’s Pegasus barge from Marshall 

Space Flight Center in Huntsville, where it was manufactured, to Kennedy Space Center in July 2020.

The penultimate piece of hardware for the Artemis I test flight around the Moon shipped from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center 

in July and arrived at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch vehicle stage adapter (LVSA) connects the core 

stage of NASA’s SLS rocket to the upper stage, called the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The cone-shaped connector also 

helps protect the RL10 engine housed in the upper stage, which will provide the power necessary to leave Earth’s orbit and send 

the Orion spacecraft on its journey to the Moon.

“The launch vehicle stage adapter for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket was the final piece of Artemis I rocket hardware built 

exclusively at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center,” said Marshall Director Jody Singer. “This milestone comes as Marshall teams 

just completed the structural test campaign of the SLS rocket that confirmed the rocket’s structural design is ready for Artemis 

missions to the Moon.” 

Read more about shipping the LVSA: go.nasa.gov/313a9lO

Read more about LVSA’s arrival at Kennedy Space Center: go.nasa.gov/3lIbg2q
NASA, NORTHROP FIRE 

FULL-SCALE BOOSTER FOR 

FUTURE FLIGHTS

NASA and Northrop Grumman successfully completed the Flight Support Booster-1 (FSB-1) test in Promontory, Utah, Sept. 2. The NASA and 

Northrop Grumman team will use data from the test to evaluate the motor’s performance using potential new materials and processes for Artemis 

missions beyond the Moon landing in 2024.

As NASA begins assembling the boosters for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will power the first Artemis mission to 

the Moon, teams in Utah are evaluating materials and processes to improve rocket boosters for use on missions after Artemis 

III. NASA and Northrop Grumman, the SLS booster lead contractor, completed a full-scale booster test for NASA’s SLS rocket in 

Promontory, Utah, Sept. 2. The team will use data from the test to evaluate the motor’s performance using potential new materials 

and processes that can be incorporated into future boosters. NASA has a contract with Northrop Grumman to build boosters for 

future rocket flights.

For a little over two minutes — the same amount of time that the boosters power the SLS rocket during liftoff and ascent for each 

SLS mission — the five-segment flight support booster fired in the Utah desert, producing more than 3 million pounds of thrust. 

NASA and Northrop Grumman have previously completed three development motor tests and two qualification motor tests for 

the powerhouse five-segment solid rocket boosters, which are the largest ever built for spaceflight. The Flight Support Booster-1 

(FSB-1) test builds on prior tests with the introduction of propellant ingredients from new suppliers for boosters on SLS rockets 

to support flights after Artemis III.

Read more: go.nasa.gov/30665Ry
COUNTDOWN 

TO 

GREEN RUN 

HOT FIRE 

The SLS rocket’s first core stage built for 

flight will complete the Green Run test series 

with a full-up hot fire test scheduled to last 

up to eight minutes. The stage is installed in 

the B-2 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center.

NASA is in the final rounds of the Green Run test series, which will verify the SLS core stage is ready for the Artemis missions. The 

Artemis I core stage was installed in the B-2 test stand at Stennis Space Center in January to begin the eight-part Green Run test 

series, which will ensure the flight hardware is ready for the first and future Artemis missions. The last of the eight tests is a hot fire 

test with all four of the stage’s RS-25 engines firing for up to eight minutes. The test replicates the launch by loading the propellants 

and allowing them to flow throughout the system as the four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to demonstrate that the engines, 

tanks, fuel lines, valves, pressurization system, and software can all perform together just as they will on launch day. 

Engineers have been progressing through the series of eight Green Run tests on the core stage of the SLS rocket, continuing 

progress toward a milestone hot fire test in November. Operators concluded a test of the stage’s thrust vector control system on the 

historic B-2 Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., Sept. 13. The test provided critical verification 

of the control system and its related hydraulics as operators gimbaled the stage’s four RS-25 engines just as they must move 

during flight to steer the rocket and maintain a proper trajectory. The stage now is set for two more tests – a simulated countdown 

demonstration and wet dress rehearsal – directly leading to the hot fire of all four RS-25 engines, just as during an actual flight. 

Read more about Green Run testing and Artemis missions: go.nasa.gov/3o9tHyO
STACKING 

MAKES 

PERFECT

Technicians with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) are preparing to assemble the SLS solid rocket boosters that will help 

power the Artemis I mission. 

EGS teams are rehearsing booster stacking operations inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in 

Florida. The team is using full-scale replicas of booster segments, referred to as pathfinders, for the practice sessions in the VAB. 

The exercises help ensure successful handling of the 177-foot-tall flight boosters that will help power the Artemis I mission. The 

flight boosters will be stacked on the mobile launcher later this year, following completion of Green Run testing of the rocket’s 

core stage. 

Read more: go.nasa.gov/36elvHh
‘WORMING’ 

UP SOME 

COOL 

BOOSTERS

When NASA’s Artemis I mission launches, the agency’s iconic “worm” will be along for the ride. Teams at Kennedy Space Center 

have painted the historic logo in bright red on the SLS solid rocket boosters and Orion spacecraft. The worm was introduced in 

1975 and was incorporated into many of NASA’s next-generation programs. It was retired in 1992, but made a comeback in 2020 

as the agency ushers in a new era of human spaceflight. 

Read more: go.nasa.gov/33hppgE
WHAT’S NEW IN SLS SOCIAL MEDIA

BOOSTER TEST 

LIGHTS UP 

SOCIAL MEDIA

On Sept. 2, teams from NASA and booster prime 

contractor Northrop Grumman conducted a ground 

test of Flight Support Booster-1 (FSB-1) to test 

materials and propellant for flight beyond the third 

Artemis mission. The two-minute hot fire enabled 

engineers to evaluate the motor’s performance using 

potential new materials and processes. 

Watch the video here: youtu.be/mWzx8LGP9K8
SLS ON THE VIRTUAL ROAD

The SLS Program isn’t just about launching the world’s most powerful rocket to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Well, that is the 

primary objective. But the program is also committed to reaching out to audiences and keeping them informed about the rocket’s 

missions, its progress to the pad, and promoting interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. We’re going to need the 

Artemis generation to help us explore the solar system with SLS! Typically, the SLS Program hits the road most weeks of the year 

to bring news of the rocket and the Artemis program to audiences nationwide. We can’t do that right now, but we can bring all 

the exciting news right into your virtual classroom. SLS engineers and industry partners have been hitting the virtual road with a 

series of webinars and podcasts. Ready to dive into more rocket news? Need help getting fired up for the Green Run hot fire? 

Here are some webinars and podcasts to check out:

SLS Chief of Staff Tyler Nester chats with the Casual Space podcast

SLS Boosters Manager Bruce Tiller updates the Museum of Life & Science

SLS Boosters Deputy Manager Dave Reynolds presents to the Roper Mountain Science Center

SLS Liquid Engines Manager Johnny Heflin briefs the San Diego Air & Space Museum

SLS Utilization Manager Rob Stough talks to the Carnegie Science Center

Industry partner Tony Castilleja from Boeing speaks to Space Center Houston

Industry partner Scott Duncan from Aerojet Rocketdyne virtually visits the California Science Center

Be sure to check SLS social media for the next SLS webinar!
SPACEFLIGHT 

PARTNERS: 

Kirkhill Inc.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 550

LOCATION: Brea, California

WHAT THEY DO FOR SLS:

Kirkhill Inc. produces insulating materials for the SLS solid 

rocket motors. Materials include silica-filled EPDM, silicafilled NBR, PBI-filled NBR, and natural rubber. Kirkhill 

insulating materials were used on the recent Flight Support 

Booster-1 that successfully test-fired in September 2020. 

The insulation in the booster motors protects the cases 

and igniters’ metal hardware from the harsh internal motor 

environment. It also protects the external motor joints 

from weather on the launch pad and from heating during 

flight. Kirkhill’s engineered, high-performance elastomer 

products are used on commercial, military, and business 

aircraft around the world as well as rockets and satellites. 

Kirkhill Inc. is a valuable partner in ensuring the consistency, 

dependability, and safety of the SLS Program and has been 

a key team member for many years.

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