Orion crew and service modules integrated for upcoming docking tests
Technicians assembled Orion's crew and service sections on July 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, preparing for docking trials with commercial lander prototypes.
On July 30, 2026, workers in the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building joined Orion's crew capsule to its service module. The combined vehicle will carry NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. The mission will evaluate rendezvous and docking with test articles from Blue Origin and SpaceX's human landing systems. This integration marks a key step toward the Artemis III flight schedule.
Why it matters
The integration advances Artemis III's schedule and tests critical docking technology for future lunar missions.
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