Following this milestone, the next step in the Artemis II assembly will involve stacking the interim cryogenic propulsion stage.

The Artemis II mission aims to test technologies for future lunar landings and pave the way for human exploration of Mars.

This mission will mark the first crewed flight of the Artemis program, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey to the Moon.

NASA's Artemis II rocket reached a significant milestone with the installation of a launch vehicle stage adapter on April 12, 2025.

Manufactured by Teledyne Brown Engineering at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the adapter was constructed using advanced robotic tools.

Using a 325-ton crane, the adapter was placed atop the core stage of the SLS rocket at Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building.

This cone-shaped adapter is crucial as it connects the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage to the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, which is essential for the mission around the Moon.

The adapter serves to protect avionics and electrical systems in the upper stage from vibrations and sound pressure during launch.

The adapter was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in September 2024 aboard NASA's Pegasus barge.