L3Harris Technologies has delivered the four RS-25 rocket engines that will power the core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) for the Artemis III mission, clearing another key milestone ahead of the planned 2027 launch.
The engines, shipped to NASA for integration with the SLS core stage, will generate more than 2 million pounds of combined thrust at lift-off, providing the power needed to send the Orion spacecraft and its crew on a journey to the moon.
Artemis III is expected to become the first crewed mission to land astronauts on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission forms a central part of NASA’s long-term strategy to establish a sustained human presence on and around the moon while developing the technologies and operational experience needed for future missions to Mars.
The four engines delivered for Artemis III are refurbished Space Shuttle-era RS-25 engines that have been modernised for use on the SLS. Each engine has undergone extensive upgrades to improve reliability while adapting the design to operate under the more demanding performance requirements of the heavy-lift launch vehicle.
Unlike earlier Artemis missions, the Artemis III engines will be integrated into the rocket’s engine section at the Kennedy Space Center using a new vertical assembly process designed to streamline production and improve efficiency for future launches.
The delivery also reflects the continuing evolution of the RS-25 program. While the first Artemis missions rely on upgraded Space Shuttle heritage engines, L3Harris is simultaneously producing an entirely new generation of RS-25 engines using modern manufacturing techniques intended to reduce cost while supporting the sustained launch cadence planned for future Artemis missions.
NASA has steadily advanced the Artemis program over recent years, completing the uncrewed Artemis I mission before successfully flying astronauts aboard Artemis II. Artemis III is expected to build on those achievements by returning humans to the lunar surface and laying the foundations for a permanent international presence in cislunar space.
For L3Harris, the engine delivery reinforces its role as one of NASA’s key industrial partners, with the company’s propulsion systems continuing a legacy that stretches from the Space Shuttle program to the next generation of deep-space exploration.
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