Leidos will contribute to a "go" for the Artemis I launch

^{The Artemis I test flight will launch as early as Monday morning. Photo: Ben Smegelsky (NASA)}

Leidos will have a number of fingerprints on next week’s historic Artemis I launch that will send the Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the moon and back.

The uncrewed mission is expected to launch as early as 8:33 a.m. Monday from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Why you should know: Artemis-I will test the integrated hardware and technology that will return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since NASA’s final Apollo mission nearly 50 years ago.

“During this flight, Orion will launch atop the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown,” according to NASA. “The flight will pave the way for future missions to the lunar vicinity, including landing the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the moon.”

Leidos Impact: Among other systems, Artemis I will test the IT infrastructure required for modern space travel, missions that will rely on seamless and secure connectivity.

The Leidos Civil group supports NASA in these efforts through a suite of IT services, and many of its experts will be on hand to support a smooth launch from an overall IT perspective.

Leidos division manager Nate Apodaca said he and his team will monitor a number of ground systems during the launch including cameras, servers and cybersecurity operations.

“Any information NASA needs about what’s happening during the launch will be relayed to them through Leidos-supported IT systems,” Apodaca said, “so we’ll be monitoring the network to make sure it contributes to a ‘go’ for launch.”

The Leidos Dynetics group helped develop several components for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket program, including:

• The core stage pathfinder, a 212-foot replica of the rocket’s largest piece used to simulate ground transportation to the launch site.
• Two structural simulators used in the flight qualification process for the core stage.
• The exhaust gas heat exchanger that will regulate hydraulic fluid temperatures during launch.

Looking ahead, the Dynetics group will also help develop the universal stage adapter that will connect the rocket and spacecraft during future Artemis missions, and human landing system that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface and return them back to Earth.

“I’m proud that the Dynetics group has been able to leverage the skills from our Space Systems and Manufacturing Divisions to support SLS tooling, transportation and qualification efforts,” says Division Manager Robert Wright. “Besides the material contributions to the programs, our company and employees have been strong advocates for NASA’s SLS and the exploration opportunities it enables.”

Artemis I is expected to cover more than 1.3 million miles over the course of 42 days before splashing down on Oct. 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

If all goes well, Artemis 2 will launch with a human crew as soon as 2024. Artemis 3, which will land humans on the moon, may launch as early as 2025.

Please contact the Leidos media relations team for more information.

Related:

• IT infrastructure in the new space age
• Leidos stows cargo for first all-private space mission
• The evolution of lunar vehicles

^{* Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 1, 2021, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.}