Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Artemis 1 Update: The Orion Spacecraft Has Begun the First 4.2 Miles of Its Journey to the Moon!

The mobile transporter carrying NASA's Space Launch System rocket rolls away from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

Just thought I'd share these awesome photos of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket rolling out of Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in Florida, hopefully for the final time, over four hours ago.

First motion of the crawler-transporter carrying SLS, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and their mobile launcher [which all weigh a combined 21.4 million pounds (9.7 million kilograms)] out of the VAB was at 6:55 PM, PDT (9:55 PM, EDT). It should take around 8 hours for SLS to venture 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) to the pad at Launch Complex 39B and begin its final preps for flight.

The launch of Artemis 1 remains on schedule for 5:33 AM, PDT (8:33 AM, EDT) on Monday, August 29...with Monday, September 5 being the last possible day in this opening window that SLS and Orion can set course for the Moon.

Here's hoping that August 29 will be the day that the Artemis era, and a new period in deep-space crewed exploration, truly begins. Happy Tuesday!

The giant doors to the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 3 are open as the mobile launcher carrying NASA's Space Launch System rocket prepares to roll to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B for final flight preps...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

The mobile launcher carrying NASA's Space Launch System rocket emerges from the Vehicle Assembly Building to begin its journey to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B for final flight preps...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

Orion is now visible as the mobile launcher carrying this capsule and NASA's Space Launch System rocket emerges from the Vehicle Assembly Building to begin its journey to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B for final flight preps...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

The mobile launcher carrying NASA's Space Launch System rocket exits from the Vehicle Assembly Building to begin its journey to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B for final flight preps...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

The mobile launcher carrying NASA's Space Launch System rocket exits from the Vehicle Assembly Building to begin its journey to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B for final flight preps...on August 16, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky
Posted by Richard Par at 11:07 PM
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