One of the most momentous tests in NASA history is about to blast off. And you can watch it live.
The space agency has slated the morning of August 29 — with backup dates of September 2 and 5 — for the first launch of its new 322-foot-tall moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). If successful, this critical demonstration mission, called Artemis l, will pave the way for NASA astronauts to return to the moon in late 2025. Ultimately, NASA plans to use this colossal rocket to establish a permanent U.S. presence on and around the moon.
After a 50-year lunar absence, SLS — though hugely expensive, delayed, and tangled in U.S. politics — will enable NASA to restart its human exploration of deep space.
Watching the launch is easy
How to watch: NASA will livestream the launch on NASA TV, which you can watch on NASA’s website, on NASA TV’s YouTube Channel, or on NASA’s livestream found just below.
When to watch: The space agency plans to launch the SLS rocket as early as 8:33 a.m. ET on August 29, 2022. This live coverage starts at 6:30 a.m. ET. NASA has a two-hour time window to blast the rocket into space. Weather often delays rocket launches, so we’ll update this story if NASA is unable to launch on August 29.
What the Artemis l mission will do
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The uncrewed mission will prove that the SLS rocket can lift the Orion spacecraft (which will eventually carry astronauts) into space and help propel it to the moon. If successful, the rocket will become the most powerful launch vehicle in the world.
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NASA spaceflight engineers will scrutinize the performance of Orion as it travels through space, loops around the moon a number of times, and then returns to Earth. The mission will last 42 days.
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Orion will plummet through Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean. This all has to go smoothly and safely: Astronauts will be on the next mission, Artemis ll.
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NASA testing the Orion capsule landing in a big pool at the agency’s Langley Research Center.
Credit: NASA Langley Research Center
