NASA has pulled the plug on ML-2 (Mobile Launcher 2), the launch platform under construction at Kennedy Space Center that was planned to support future SLS flights.

The announcement came as part of a clarifying statement regarding the Artemis program restructuring announced on February 27th. The agency is standardizing its SLS rocket configuration and adding a new mission to the manifest, all using SLS Block 1 instead of the Block 1B planned for Artemis IV and beyond. That restructuring renders both ML-2 and the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) surplus to requirements.

How the ML-2 project will be wound down will affect a substantial number of people locally. An estimated 300 tradeworkers, including welders, ironworkers, carpenters, and electricians, are on-site at Kennedy Space Center working on ML-2. Additionally, according to Bechtel, a total of 307 suppliers were contracted to support the project, of which 214 were small businesses.

ML-2’s cancellation marks a significant pivot for infrastructure at KSC. The program will now have a single launch platform, ML-1, for SLS missions.

During Artemis I, ML-1 suffered extensive damage. Elevators, electrical equipment, enclosure panel doors, and pneumatic tubing took hard hits from SLS as it launched, with minor damage to umbilicals and the crew access arm, plus damage to pneumatic lines for gaseous nitrogen and helium that caused oxygen sensors to give false low-oxygen readings. All in all, it took some $26 Million dollars to repair the platform following the debut launch of SLS.

When asked by space journalist Marcus House about improvements to ML-1 after Artemis I, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said tonight that “Yes, there were fixes based on what was observed after Artemis I. We will soon find out if ML-1 is more resilient after Artemis II launches. Regardless, having the team and the resources to turn the pad and meet the target launch cadence is a program necessity.”

Author: Charles Boyer

NASA kid from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo parents and family. I’m a writer and photographer sharing the story of spaceflight from the Eastern Range here in Florida.