https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/10/19/10_artemis_missions/ > NASA brought a smile to faces of Boeing shareholders this week with the announcement that it would be ordering 10 Space Launch System (SLS) core stages from the US aviation giant for Artemis rocket launches to the Moon. Although paying for the things could be tricky. > The news came as NASA was trumpeting the arrival of the first version the monster rocket's core stage into its Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). In what doubtless brought a frisson of recollection to many, the 212 foot-long behemoth was lifted into a vertical position in the giant structure's transfer aisle, just like the external tank of the shuttle, back in the day. This time, however, there will be no orbiter to attach.