Painting of the NASA worm logo is complete on the Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket boosters for the Artemis I mission. While painters added parts of the iconic logo before the segments were stacked, they had to wait until the boosters were fully assembled to finish the job. The tracks of cable lining each of the dual sets of the five segments have been installed, enabling teams to finish the last bit of painting ahead of the Moon rocket rolling to the pad on March 17 for the wet dress rehearsal test.
The SLS boosters are the largest, most powerful solid propellant booster ever built for flight. Standing 17 stories tall and burning approximately six tons of propellant every second, each booster generates more thrust than 14 four-engine jumbo commercial airliners. Together, the SLS twin boosters provide more than 75% of the total SLS thrust at launch.
SLS is the most powerful rocket in the world and is the only rocket that can send the Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission. With the Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish long-term exploration in preparation for human missions to Mars. SLS and Orion, along with the commercial human landing system and Gateway that will orbit the Moon, are NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration.
Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett