Artemis 1 and the First Launch of NASA’s Megarocket: What to Know
NASA’s most powerful rocket is nearly ready to send an uncrewed Orion capsule on a 42-day journey to the Moon and back, but this deceptively straightforward plan involves a ton of moving parts—including a harrowing 5,000-degree reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. Here’s what you can expect from this historic mission, called Artemis 1, as NASA officially ushers in the Artemis era.
When will NASA’s SLS launch?
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) is scheduled to depart the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 18 to begin its short trek to Launch Complex 39B.
Should all go according to plan, SLS, along with an uncrewed Orion capsule placed atop, will launch on August 29 during a two-hour window that starts at 8:33 a.m. ET. Backup windows are also in place for September 2 and September 5.