NASA installs retired shuttle engines for Artemis III launch vehicle
NASA technicians began fitting four legacy RS-25 engines into the Space Launch System core stage at Kennedy Space Center, preparing for the Artemis III crew mission slated for 2027.
On August 24, workers at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida started the installation of four RS-25 engines—serial numbers E2054, E2057, E2048 and E2052—into the SLS rocket that will propel Artemis III to low-Earth orbit. Each engine carries a unique flight record from previous shuttle flights. Engine 2048, for example, launched astronaut Randy Bresnik on STS-129 aboard Atlantis and later flew on STS-95 with Discovery, returning Senator John Glenn to orbit at age 77. The integration marks a key step toward the agency’s first crewed lunar mission beyond 2027.
Why it matters
Reusing proven shuttle engines speeds Artemis III's development and links past shuttle achievements to future lunar missions.
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