NASA Artemis 1 Gears Up for Second Rollout as Space Agency Gets Ready for Moon Mission | How To Watch

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 05 June 2022, 01:06 pm

NASA's Artemis 1 is the space agency's new Space Launch System (SLS) mega-rocket. It is scheduled to send an uncrewed Orion capsule around the Moon and back.

To prepare for the takeoff, the technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center or KSC will transport the Artemis 1 moon rocket to its launch pad on June 6 for an important countdown rehearsal.

NASA Artemis 1 To Be Shipped To KSC

NASA officials want to launch Artemis 1 in August. To speed up the process, both the SLS and Orion are going to complete a series of fueling and simulated tests called "wet dress rehearsal," which is scheduled for June 19.

The rollout will begin on June 6, and it will take the megarocket on a 4-mile or 6.4 kilometers trek from KSC Vehicle Assembly Building or VAB to Pad 39B. The trek alone will take 8 to 12 hours.

For those interested in watching the process live, you can visit KSC's Youtube Channel.

This serves as the second rollout for Artemis 1. The first rollout was in March when both SLS and Orion emerged from the VAB before hundreds of people. However, an overnight rollout is preferred because of more predictable weather.

Also Read: NASA Will Be Bringing National Geographic's Cameras To Artemis Moon Mission

The first wet dress rehearsal for Artemis 1 was on Apr. 1, and it was supposed to end 48 hours later. It was delayed numerous times, and it was ultimately scrubbed after three different tries to fuel the SLS but did not push through.

Due to a hydrogen leak and a stuck on the valve, the launch tower halted operations, according to Space.com.

NASA's Plan to Land First Woman on the Moon

After a series of critical contract awards and several hardware milestones, NASA has shared its Phase 1 plans to land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2025 via the Artemis program, according to Mashable.

In 2021, NASA accepted the challenge to accelerate its plans by four years and establish a sustainable exploration by the end of the decade.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine revealed that NASA got bipartisan support from Congress, and this helped the agency to continue its goal to go to the Moon again.

Bridenstine added that in recent months, the space agency was able to solidify its exploration plans, and they've refined its budget and architecture.

The NASA Administrator also said that the space agency will go back to the Moon for "scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to serve as an inspiration for a new generation of explorers."

NASA's plan to go back to the Moon will set the momentum for its plan to land on Mars, according to Today.

In its formal plan, NASA captures Artemis 1's progress to date, identifying its numerous missions and its commercial and international partnerships to ensure that the space agency will continue to lead in exploration and achieve its mission to land astronauts on the Moon.

Artemis 1, the SLS, and Orion are closer than ever to their first integrated launch. The spacecraft is now complete and is in its final series of tests.