March 29, 2024

NASA’s Massive Artemis I Moon Rocket To Depart Launch Pad 39B Today

Crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2) makes its way along the crawlerway to Launch Complex 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Wildflowers frame a view of the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft on Launch Pad 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 21, 2022. In future Artemis objectives, NASA will land the very first lady and the very first individual of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-lasting lunar presence and serving as a stepping stone on the way to Mars.

Crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2) makes its way along the crawlerway to Launch Complex 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In view atop the mobile launcher on the pad are the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
At around 5:30 p.m. ET today (April 25, 2022), NASAs Artemis I Moon rocket is set up to leave launchpad 39B atop the crawler-transporter and start its 4-mile trek to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
When inside the VAB, teams will work on changing a defective upper phase check valve and a little leak within the tail service mast umbilical ground plate housing on the mobile launcher while the provider for the gaseous nitrogen makes upgrades to their pipeline configuration to support Artemis I screening and launch. Following conclusion, groups will go back to the launch pad to finish the next damp dress wedding rehearsal attempt.
Wildflowers frame a view of the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft on Launch Pad 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 21, 2022. In view are the 3 lightning defense towers and the water tower. The SLS and Orion atop the mobile launcher were transferred to the pad on crawler-transporter 2 for a prelaunch test called a damp gown wedding rehearsal. Artemis I will be the first incorporated test of the SLS and Orion spacecraft. In future Artemis objectives, NASA will land the very first female and the first individual of color on the surface area of the Moon, paving the method for a long-term lunar existence and serving as a stepping stone en route to Mars. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Once the roll has actually begun, the NASA Kennedy Twitter account will release an update. See a live stream of the rocket leaving the pad and showing up at VAB on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel and inspect back here for updates.

By NASA
April 25, 2022