Bab 669: Chapter 650: Hope

February 25, Florida, Kennedy Space Center.

For America Space, the beginning of 2018 was quite good.

First, the "Gravity Dragon" spacecraft had safely let two astronauts experience four days of gravity life and safely returned, snatching the crown of the first artificial gravity spacecraft.

Then, Endeavour passed ground tests, which marked the imminent maiden flight of America's first nuclear-powered, large manned spacecraft, effectively matching the Storm.

And now, another Moon rocket was standing tall on the launch pad.

This was the third SL-X, carrying the entire crew of Artemis IV, set to execute the first Moon mission of the new year.

Compared to the first two SL-X launches, this SL-X made significant improvements to its upper stage, replacing the two RL-10 engines of the ICPS upper stage with the three RL-10 engines of the Centaur VI upper stage, increasing the lunar orbital payload capacity to 55 tons.