NASA is November 14th is the targetFor the maiden launch of the next-generation Space Launch System (SLS), from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The rocket will power an uncrewed Orion spacecraft toward the moon where it’ll come within 62 miles of the the lunar surface before returning to Earth for a splashdown landing on December 9.
Artemis I is a pilot mission for Artemis II. It will be accompanied by astronauts. Artemis III will be the first mission to the moon that puts a woman and a person of color. Artemis III is expected to be completed no later than 2025. It will also mark Artemis III’s first crewed moon landing, since the 1972 Apollo mission.
Airbus Space, which built part of the Orion spacecraft, on Monday shared an awesome aerial image showing the SLS rocket on the launchpad ahead of next week’s maiden flight.
Guess who's back… back again! 😉#PléiadesNeo 🛰 spotted @NASA_SLS 🚀 back on the launch pad!
With @NASA_OrionOnboard, final preparations are continuing before the launch of the Space Shuttle on 14 November. 📅#OrionESM #Artemis pic.twitter.com/SSgcg6hKe9— Airbus Space (@AirbusSpace) November 7, 2022
The rocket looks tiny in the photo, though stand at its base and you’ll quickly appreciate the full 98-meter height of this mighty space vehicle.
And with 8.8 million pounds of thrust at launch — that’s 13% more power than the Space Shuttle and 15% more than the Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo missions — the liftoff promises to be a spectacular sight, one that’s set to attract thousands of people to Florida’s Space Coast, with many more watching online.
SLS rocket Arrived at the launchpadOn Friday, after having spent the entire month of October at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), about four miles away, it was finally freed. The SLS had been previously on the launchpad for several launches, which were interrupted by technical problems. The approaching hurricane Ian at the end of September led to the decision to move SLS from the launchpad to the VAB. While inside the VAB, NASA engineers were able to perform work on correcting the earlier issues and readying the rocket for next week’s launch.
The launch of the mission will signal a new age in space exploration. There could be a permanent lunar base that can be used for human habitation. Also, the first crewed missions towards Mars are part of the plan.
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