NASA has confirmed the launch date for its $50 billion rocket , the first big step in returning humans to the Moon .
Artemis I , NASA ‘s space program that aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence on Earth’s satellite, is ready to take its first big step. For this reason, the space agency has confirmed the day and time on which the Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket -valued at US$50 billion- and the Orion capsule will take off towards the star if everything goes according to plan.
Through a statement published on its official website, NASA confirmed that the Artemis I mission has passed the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) , the flight readiness review that all launches into space must pass. Due to this, if the weather allows it and there is no unforeseen event on that date, on August 29 at 07:33 am (Peruvian time), the rocket should be leaving the Earth to go to the Moon.
The first big step in NASA’s Artemis program
While the intention is for humans to return to the Earth satellite, it is important to remember that this first launch will be an unmanned test flight. If the SLS launches successfully and there are no major complications, the rocket should launch the Orion capsule towards the Moon .
If all this goes according to plan and the spacecraft orbits the Moon before returning to our planet landing somewhere in the Pacific Ocean , NASA can begin preparing the next step in its program: adding humans to the process. With Artemis II , the spacecraft will carry a group of astronauts and orbit the satellite in a similar way to this first mission and Apollo 8 . This launch is expected to take place in 2024, but the agency will redefine its calendar based on what happens in this first instance.
Follow NASA’s Artemis I mission live
NASA will broadcast live the entire Artemis I mission, from the moment the corresponding technicians fill the SLS megarocket with fuel until the Orion capsule orbits the Moon and is prepared to send the first image of the Earth seen from our satellite.
You can closely follow this entire process through the official NASA accounts on social networks and through its official broadcast on YouTube , which you can find below. Remember that the launch of the rocket and the capsule on board will take place on Monday, August 29 at 07:33 am.