As part of NASA’s Artemis Program, the new 380-foot tall Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) rocket support structure will serve as the key to successfully assembling, transporting and launching NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. The severe conditions to which the structure is subjected during these processes required unique but challenging design criteria for the structural members as well as the connections within the structure. This presentation will provide an overview of the ML2 structure and project requirements. It will then discuss the various aspects of design in which CSD was involved, highlighting the coordination between all parties of the project as well as the challenges and lessons learned from this unique project.
Source: NASCC Year: 2026
Speaker(s): Josh Szmergalski, PE, Casey Peterson, PE, and Michael Kempfert