The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) long-awaited plan to go back to the moon may come to fruition very soon with the Artemis 1 back on the launchpad.
The Artemis 1 marks the first spaceflight in NASA's Artemis program, an exploration program that humans and robots will lead, and the first flight of the agency's Space Launch System and Orion.
NASA's plan is to get astronauts back on the moon since the Apollo era, with a new mission to prove that the Space Launch System works and Orion is safe to carry humans to the moon for future explorations and even potential rehoming. The upcoming rocket launch will first place the Artemis 1 into a low-Earth orbit before firing its upper stage, placing it into a translunar orbit.
According to CNET, the reveal comes as NASA posted an update welcoming the moon rocket Artemis 1 back on the launchpad. The exploration program plans for the spacecraft to launch with Orion and its European Service Module and tentatively land NASA's astronauts on the moon by its third Artemis mission in 2025.
The moon rocket arrived on Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m., ahead of its launch date, according to NASA's blog.
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NASA's Artemis 1 Launch Date and Coverage Details
The Space Launch System is set to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 14. during a 69-minute launch window that starts at 12:07 a.m. EST. A launch countdown will also start ticking two days before the liftoff on Nov. 12.
Additionally, live coverage of NASA's briefings and events leading to the launch will air on NASA Television, the NASA official app, and the NASA website.
NASA's Initial Delay with Artemis 1 Launch
Due to prioritizing the safety and probability of success of the launch, Artemis 1's first mission is already five years behind schedule and billions over its initial budget.
According to the New York Times, more than $40 billion has already been spent on the Artemis program, specifically due to its Space Launch System and Orion development. The Artemis 1's system is estimated at a budget of $4.1 billion per launch.
However, NASA officials stand by their decision to move the launch as the price of two postponements would be a small price to pay for endangering a project of that scale and importance.
"The cost of two scrubs is a lot less than a failure," NASA administrator Bill Nelson told NYT.
NASA had originally hoped to launch the Artemis 1 in August, but due to unforeseen technicalities, the launch had been pushed back further and further. According to CNET, the most recent issue was the arrival of hurricane Ian in late September, causing NASA to move the spacecraft back to its garage for safekeeping while the storm passed.
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Written by: Andi C.
