Administrator to visit MAF

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will visit NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans on Aug. 15, where the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) is built. He will meet with members of the SLS team, which is preparing to add the final section to the core stage that will be used for the first SLS launch (Artemis-1), an uncrewed test flight of the rocket and an Orion capsule. Assembly of the core stage, the largest and most complex stage NASA ever has built, remains on schedule for completion before the end of the year. Comprised of two liquid propellant tanks and four RS-25 engines, it will produce more than two million pounds of thrust. (Sources: Spacepolicyonline, 08/10/19, Spaceref, 08/08/19)