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NASA's Space Launch System rocket is seen atop the mobile launcher in this view looking up in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Artemis I Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson looks out of the windows in Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center as NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft roll by on their way to the launch pad.

Exploration Ground Systems

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, develops and operates the systems and facilities needed to process and launch rockets and spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis missions. EGS plays a primary role in assembly, launch, and recovery of rockets and spacecraft. EGS has helped transform Kennedy Space Center from a historically government-only launch complex to a spaceport that can handle several different kinds of spacecraft and rockets – both government and commercial.

Learn More about Exploration Ground Systems

Our Nation's Return to the Moon

Learn about the Artemis missions that will pave the way for long-term human presence on the Moon.

Learn More about Our Nation's Return to the Moon
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 26, 2022.

Meet the artemis ii crew

Commander Reid Wiseman of the Artemis II mission.

Commander assigned to the Artemis II mission.

Pilot Victor Glover of the Artemis II mission.

Pilot assigned to the Artemis II mission.

Mission Specialist Christina Koch for the Artemis II mission.

Mission specialist assigned to the Artemis II mission.

Mission specialist assigned to the Artemis II mission.

Focus Areas and Capabilities

EGS is preparing the infrastructure to support several different kinds of spacecraft and rockets. Here's how:

In this view looking up, the work platforms are being retracted from the Space Launch System rocket inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Launch Processing

EGS uses various facilities at Kennedy for spacecraft and launch vehicle processing, including the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building.

NASA's crawler-transporter 2 is photographed outside near the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Crawlers

Two behemoth machines called crawler-trans­porters have carried the load of taking rockets and spacecraft to the launch pad for more than 50 years at Kennedy.

Exploration Ground Systems’ mobile launcher makes its solo trek along the crawlerway. Seen in the foreground is the river rock used to make up the crawlerway.

Mobile Launcher

The mobile launcher is the ground structure used to assemble, process, and launch NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39B with the mobile launcher for the Artemis I mission on the pad.

Launch Pad 39B

EGS is preparing Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B to support NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

U.S. Navy divers help recover the Orion spacecraft after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 11, 2022.

Recovery Operations

The Landing and Recovery team led by EGS is responsible for safely recovering the Orion capsule and its crew following splashdown.

The Artemis I launch team sits inside Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Launch Control Center

The Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center and its firing rooms is a vital part of EGS's infrastructure needed to launch future Artemis missions.

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