Structural Evolution & Innovation in NASA’s Mobile Launcher 2: Advanced Structural Design & solutions for NASA’s Artemis Program

Abstract

NASA’s Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) is a next generation launch platform built to support the Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Standing over 380 feet tall and weighing nearly 9.5 million pounds, ML2 serves as the critical link between the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and ground operations. This seminar explores the evolution of ML2’s design, highlighting key structural innovations, advanced analysis methods, and the modular construction approach that enabled precision assembly and weight optimization. It also discusses how engineers addressed unique challenges—through collaboration among a great team. The presentation shows how civil and aerospace engineering came together to deliver one of the most complex and resilient launch structures ever developed.

Biography

Osama Abdulghafour, M.Sc., P.E., is a professional structural engineer with experience in the analysis, design, and construction of bridges, buildings, and complex infrastructure systems. He currently works with Bechtel on structural engineering for large-scale nuclear facility projects. Previously, Abdulghafour worked at Alfred Benesch & Company, where he contributed to the structural analysis, design, and field supervision and inspection of major bridge projects across the U.S. He earned his Master of Science in civil engineering (Structures) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he also served as a Research and Teaching Assistant. Earlier in his career, Abdulghafour worked in Saudi Arabia, where he was involved in the design of residential and commercial concrete structures, gaining valuable experience in international design standards and construction practices.