If everything goes as planned, the Artemis III mission will see the SLS rocket launch the crewed Orion capsule to the moon. As Orion orbits the moon, it will dock with SpaceX’s Starship.

However, the rocket system's upper stage, which was packed with upgrades for the flight test, did not survive the launch and appeared to break apart over the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

The three-core rocket, capable of generating 2.1 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, will soar on its penultimate flight in the early hours of June 22.. Those who have been with the Delta IV ...