Lockheed Martin Completes Orion Development for Artemis II Mission to the Moon
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has completed the assembly and testing of NASA's Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, marking a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration program. The spacecraft has been transferred to NASA's Exploration Ground Systems team for final launch preparations.
The Artemis II mission, scheduled for early 2026, will carry four astronauts on a 10-day journey, flying 4,600 miles beyond the Moon. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The spacecraft features significant upgrades including life support systems, displays, controls, and a functional Launch Abort System.
Lockheed Martin continues development of Orion spacecraft for future missions, with Artemis III and IV vehicles in progress. The company is contracted through Artemis VIII and has achieved cost reductions with each vehicle.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) ha completato l'assemblaggio e i test della navicella spaziale Orion della NASA per la missione Artemis II, segnando una tappa importante nel programma di esplorazione lunare della NASA. La navicella 猫 stata trasferita al team Exploration Ground Systems della NASA per le ultime preparazioni al lancio.
La missione Artemis II, prevista per all'inizio del 2026, porter脿 quattro astronauti in un viaggio di 10 giorni, volando 4.600 miglia oltre la Luna. L'equipaggio comprende gli astronauti NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch e l'astronauta canadese Jeremy Hansen. La navicella presenta importanti aggiornamenti, tra cui sistemi di supporto vitale, display, comandi e un funzionale Launch Abort System.
Lockheed Martin continua lo sviluppo della navicella Orion per missioni future, con i veicoli Artemis III e IV in fase di realizzazione. L'azienda ha un contratto fino ad Artemis VIII e ha ottenuto riduzioni dei costi con ogni veicolo.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) ha completado el ensamblaje y las pruebas de la nave espacial Orion de la NASA para la misi贸n Artemis II, marcando un hito importante en el programa de exploraci贸n lunar de la NASA. La nave ha sido transferida al equipo de Sistemas de Tierra de Exploraci贸n de la NASA para los preparativos finales de lanzamiento.
La misi贸n Artemis II, programada para principios de 2026, llevar谩 a cuatro astronautas en un viaje de 10 d铆as, volando 4,600 millas m谩s all谩 de la Luna. La tripulaci贸n incluye a los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch y al astronauta canadiense Jeremy Hansen. La nave presenta mejoras significativas, incluyendo sistemas de soporte vital, pantallas, controles y un sistema funcional de aborto de lanzamiento.
Lockheed Martin contin煤a desarrollando la nave Orion para futuras misiones, con los veh铆culos Artemis III y IV en progreso. La compa帽铆a tiene contrato hasta Artemis VIII y ha logrado reducciones de costos con cada veh铆culo.
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Lockheed Martin (NYSE : LMT) a achev茅 l'assemblage et les tests du vaisseau spatial Orion de la NASA pour la mission Artemis II, marquant une 茅tape importante dans le programme d'exploration lunaire de la NASA. Le vaisseau a 茅t茅 transf茅r茅 脿 l'茅quipe Exploration Ground Systems de la NASA pour les pr茅paratifs finaux du lancement.
La mission Artemis II, pr茅vue pour d茅but 2026, transportera quatre astronautes lors d'un voyage de 10 jours, parcourant 4 600 miles au-del脿 de la Lune. L'茅quipage comprend les astronautes de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, ainsi que l'astronaute canadien Jeremy Hansen. Le vaisseau dispose d'am茅liorations majeures, incluant les syst猫mes de support de vie, les affichages, les commandes et un syst猫me d'abandon de lancement fonctionnel.
Lockheed Martin poursuit le d茅veloppement du vaisseau Orion pour les missions futures, avec les v茅hicules Artemis III et IV en cours de r茅alisation. La soci茅t茅 est sous contrat jusqu'脿 Artemis VIII et a r茅alis茅 des r茅ductions de co没ts 脿 chaque nouveau v茅hicule.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) hat die Montage und Tests des Orion-Raumschiffs der NASA f眉r die Artemis-II-Mission abgeschlossen und damit einen bedeutenden Meilenstein im lunaren Erkundungsprogramm der NASA erreicht. Das Raumschiff wurde an das Exploration Ground Systems Team der NASA f眉r die finalen Startvorbereitungen 眉bergeben.
Die Artemis-II-Mission, geplant f眉r Anfang 2026, wird vier Astronauten auf eine 10-t盲gige Reise mitnehmen, die 4.600 Meilen jenseits des Mondes f眉hrt. Zur Besatzung geh枚ren die NASA-Astronauten Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch sowie der kanadische Astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Das Raumschiff verf眉gt 眉ber bedeutende Upgrades, darunter Lebenserhaltungssysteme, Displays, Steuerungen und ein funktionierendes Launch Abort System.
Lockheed Martin setzt die Entwicklung des Orion-Raumschiffs f眉r zuk眉nftige Missionen fort, mit den Artemis-III- und IV-Fahrzeugen in Arbeit. Das Unternehmen ist bis Artemis VIII unter Vertrag und hat bei jedem Fahrzeug Kosteneinsparungen erzielt.
- Successful completion and delivery of Orion spacecraft for Artemis II mission
- Significant technological upgrades including life support systems and laser communication capabilities
- Continued development of future Artemis missions (III through VIII) under contract
- Cost reduction achievements with each subsequent vehicle
- None.
Insights
Lockheed Martin hits key milestone delivering Orion spacecraft for Artemis II, demonstrating execution capability on NASA's lunar program.
The completion and transfer of the Orion spacecraft for Artemis II represents a significant operational milestone in Lockheed Martin's NASA contract execution. This achievement transitions the program from uncrewed test flights to human-rated spacecraft delivery, capable of carrying astronauts 4,600 miles beyond the Moon. The press release confirms Lockheed remains contracted through Artemis VIII, providing solid backlog visibility in their space segment portfolio.
Importantly, the company notes they've "decreased cost with each vehicle," suggesting manufacturing efficiencies and learning curve benefits as production advances. While this milestone doesn't represent new business, it likely triggers contractual payment events within the existing agreement structure. The early 2026 launch timeframe establishes clear expectations for the next major program milestone.
The technical upgrades implemented for Artemis II - including life support systems, crew interfaces, and functional abort systems - demonstrate Lockheed's continued capabilities in complex human spaceflight systems. This achievement reinforces their position as prime contractor on a signature NASA program during a period of increasing competition in the space sector. The ongoing production of components for Artemis III and IV vehicles indicates steady program execution across multiple contract phases.
Orion spacecraft's human-rating upgrades mark critical evolution from test vehicle to deep-space crew transport with advanced life support systems.
The technical leap from Artemis I to Artemis II represents a fundamental transformation of the Orion platform. The spacecraft now integrates complete life support systems (air, water, thermal control, waste management), crew interfaces, communications, and a fully functional Launch Abort System - essential elements that convert what was previously a test article into a true deep-space human transport vessel.
Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of an experimental laser communication system, addressing one of deep space exploration's persistent challenges: high-bandwidth data transmission over extreme distances. This technology will be crucial for future lunar surface operations and eventual Mars missions, where traditional radio frequency communications become increasingly constrained.
The spacecraft's engineering supports a 10-day mission with four astronauts traveling significantly beyond lunar orbit, demonstrating robust capabilities in environmental control, radiation protection, and propulsion systems. The planned rendezvous operations with the SLS upper stage will validate critical proximity maneuvers required for future docking scenarios.
From a technological progression standpoint, Orion represents the only current human-rated spacecraft specifically designed for deep space operations, with systems engineered for the harsh radiation environment and thermal conditions beyond Earth orbit. The lessons learned from its development and upcoming flight will establish the architecture baseline for sustainable lunar exploration and eventual Mars missions.
Upgraded Spacecraft Delivered, Preparations for 2026 Launch Underway
Orion is the most advanced, human-rated, deep space spacecraft ever developed. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for Orion and built the crew module, crew module adaptor and launch abort system.
"This achievement is a testament to our employees and suppliers who have worked tirelessly to get us to this important milestone," said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Human Space Exploration and Orion program manager at Lockheed Martin. "The Orion spacecraft completion for Artemis II is a major step forward in our nation's efforts to develop a long-term lunar presence. It's exciting to think that soon, humans will see the Earth rise over the lunar horizon from our vehicle, while also traveling farther from Earth than ever before."
Upgraded for Crew Onboard
The uncrewed 听补苍诲 聽test flights were the first steps in validating the spacecraft's core systems. Artemis II will put Orion through its final tests in deep space with a crew on board and will include learnings and significant enhancements gleaned from the Artemis I mission.
To support the health and safety of the crew, 聽have been added, which include life support 鈥� air, water, thermal control, waste management 鈥� displays and controls, audio communications, an exercise machine and a fully functional . Additionally, the vehicle is outfitted with a subset of docking sensors and an experimental laser communication system, enabling high data-rate communications and paving the way for future missions.
Path to Launch
With the completion of Orion, the EGS team will perform final preparations on the spacecraft, readying it for launch. Orion will soon be moved from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to various processing facilities. This is where EGS will load propellants and other consumables, such as water and oxygen, and install the launch abort system and its protective fairings. Upon completion, it will then be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building, lifted onto the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and undergo final preparations for launch.
Historic Artemis Flight
Scheduled to launch in early 2026, Artemis II and the Orion spacecraft will host NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day journey will include flying 4,600 miles beyond the Moon and back to Earth.
During the mission, the crew will evaluate the spacecraft's performance, test its navigation and communication systems, and conduct a series of scientific experiments. They will perform a rendezvous operation with the SLS upper stage, practicing docking activities needed for future missions including Artemis III 鈥� which will mark the first human lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
With work on Orion for Artemis II completed, Lockheed Martin continues to develop and assemble Orion spacecraft for future Artemis missions. Artemis III and IV vehicles are in the Operations and Checkout Building, while the pressure vessel is being welded at NASA's Michoud Facility in
More information about Orion:
- Lockheed Martin Orion page:
- NASA Orion page:
- NASA Artemis II page:
About Lockheed Martin
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