NASA’s Space Launch System Rolls Out to Launch Pad for Artemis I Moon Mission
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket has rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for the uncrewed Artemis I mission to the Moon. The rocket, which is the most powerful ever built by NASA, will undergo final checks and preparations before its scheduled launch on August 29th, 2022.
The Artemis I mission is a critical test of the SLS and Orion spacecraft before future missions carrying astronauts. The uncrewed flight will orbit the Moon for several weeks before returning to Earth. The mission will also test the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield, which is designed to protect astronauts during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The SLS is a massive rocket, standing over 300 feet tall and weighing over 5 million pounds. It is powered by four RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters. The Orion spacecraft is a capsule that will carry astronauts to the Moon and back. It is equipped with a variety of systems to support life, including a life support system, a propulsion system, and a navigation system.
The Artemis I mission is a major milestone in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024. The mission will pave the way for future missions that will carry astronauts to the Moon’s surface and eventually to Mars.
