The Artemis Program, led by NASA with the support of international partners such as ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), aims to mark a milestone in global space exploration by landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon. This project has the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the satellite and ultimately laying the groundwork for sending humans to Mars as early as 2033.

In order to carry out this project the construction and assembly of the launch tower is essential, as well as the rest of the infrastructure necessary for the spacecraft’s liftoff. That’s why Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transports and crane rental, has been selected to provide support in the construction of the different modules of the Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2), which will be the structure used to carry out the assembly and launch of the Space Launch System rocket.

The construction of the 7 modules and the 4 E-Rooms required for the assembly of the launch tower will take place at a separate site and it will be carried out by an LR 1250 crane and an LTR 1100 telescopic crane. As soon as the modules are completed, these will have to be transported approximately 6 miles to their final location – where the platform will be erected – for which Sarens will provide the SPMTs and the necessary equipment to carry out the maneuver.

Once at the launch site, final assembly of ML2 will begin, which will provide stability, power, coolant, fuel and communications to the spacecraft. The 380-foot-tall launcher will need to interface with the Vehicle Assembly Building and be constructed floor-to-floor, which will require an LR 11350 crawler crane. This massive crane, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 1,350 tons, will be responsible for lifting the modules and e-rooms for assembly. Once ML2 is assembled, and with the help of the hydraulic jacking system, it will need to be placed on the launch pad located at NASA’s Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

“Sarens has been able to collaborate on some of the most ambitious and complex projects around the globe. Our participation in the construction and assembly of the infrastructure necessary for the success of the Artemis Program will become another important milestone for us. It is therefore a great honor to have been appointed to carry out the preparatory work for the next big step in space exploration, something that will undoubtedly mark a turning point in the history of mankind”, says Robert Martinez, Sarens Vice President of Sales in the US.

“By having a great team of technology and professionals, Sarens has given a boost to the project and accelerated its execution. With a wealth of experience behind us, we have always provided the necessary resources to undertake each project and have shown great flexibility and adaptability to overcome any challenge that has been put in front of us, and of course, this time will be no exception”, says Lee Rowe, Sarens Regional Director.

This is not the first time Sarens has collaborated with NASA. In March 2022, Sarens already signed an agreement to start collaborating in the work related to the Artemis expedition, preparing the necessary infrastructure for future actions of this program. In the same way, Sarens was able to work with NASA on lifting activities for the Mission to Mars project at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) in Mississippi.

Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world’s largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today’s heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.

With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 4,543 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/