NASA’s moon program has been a boon for Boeing, which manufactures the core stage, or the primary a part of the large Space Launch System rocket that NASA makes use of to launch its Orion capsule to the moon.
Last week, NASA introduced that it had finalized a contract with Boeing, price $3.2 billion, to proceed manufacturing essential levels and a brand new higher stage for future missions.
“NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is the only rocket capable of sending large cargos and soon, astronauts to the Moon,” John Honeycutt, NASA’s SLS Program supervisor, stated in an announcement. “The SLS core stage is the backbone of NASA’s Moon rocket, producing more than 2 million pounds of thrust at launch, and the addition of the exploration upper stage will enable NASA to support missions to deep space through the 2030s.”