Amentum Drives Successful Artemis II Rollout in Pivotal Phase of NASA Launch Readiness
Artemis II Rollout Marks Major NASA Milestone
Amentum led a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis II mission with the successful rollout of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at Kennedy Space Center, marking a critical step in final launch preparations for the crewed Artemis mission, during which the Orion spacecraft will carry four astronauts on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back, powered by the SLS, the most powerful and capable rocket ever developed by NASA.
Leadership in Engineering and Operational Excellence
The successful rollout underscores Amentum’s role in delivering the engineering expertise and operational discipline required to advance Artemis II toward launch readiness, reinforcing the company’s contribution to the United States’ human space exploration objectives and highlighting its ability to execute complex, mission-critical milestones under strict safety and performance requirements.
Executive Perspective on Mission Responsibility
Mark Walter, President of Amentum’s Engineering & Technology business, said the successful rollout and preparation of Artemis II serves as a reminder of the responsibility entrusted to the team, emphasizing that Amentum’s engineering rigor and operational precision were central to enabling continued progress toward launch preparations and supporting the broader goals of advancing human space exploration.
Critical Role in Crawler-Transporter Operations
During rollout operations, Amentum engineers and technicians played a central role in operating the crawler-transporter, the massive vehicle used to move the fully stacked SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launch platform from the VAB to LC-39B, a multi-hour operation requiring precise coordination, continuous systems monitoring, and seamless integration with multiple NASA teams to safely transport the agency’s most powerful launch vehicle.
Support Under NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program
Under NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program, Amentum provides engineering services, technical expertise, and systems integration support for Artemis II, with responsibilities spanning the maintenance and modernization of ground equipment, integration and testing of launch vehicles, and support for launch, recovery, and end-to-end operational activities for both the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
Sustaining NASA’s Ground Infrastructure
The crawler-transporter remains a cornerstone of NASA’s ground infrastructure, designed to carry the SLS and Orion over several miles and up the inclined approach to the launch pad with extreme precision and controlled speed, and Amentum’s continued operation and sustainment of this system reflects decades of experience in high-consequence ground operations and mission-critical systems at Kennedy Space Center.
Next Phase Toward Launch Readiness
Artemis II is scheduled to launch early this year, and following the successful rollout, NASA and Amentum have entered the next major phase of the mission, which includes pad integration activities, final system checkouts, and comprehensive launch readiness preparations essential to ensuring mission success.
About Amentum
Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address complex challenges across science, security, and sustainability, with approximately 50,000 employees operating in more than 70 countries across all seven continents and applying deep technical expertise, collaboration, and a strong commitment to safety to drive mission-critical outcomes.
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