NASA Targeting Monday, Nov. 14 for Launch of Artemis I Moon Mission from Kennedy Space Center

WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV

BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – NASA is targeting Monday, Nov. 14 for the launch of the Artemis I Moon mission from Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s Space Coast during a 69-minute launch window that opens at 12:07 a.m. EST. The launch countdown will begin Saturday, Nov. 12, at 12:27 a.m.

Artemis I is the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, an uncrewed Orion spacecraft, and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida that will pave the way for a crewed test flight and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.

The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived Friday, Nov. 4 at about 8:30 a.m.

Engineers previously rolled the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building Sept. 26 ahead of Hurricane Ian and after waving off two previous launch attempts Aug. 29 due to a faulty temperature sensor, and Sept. 4 due to a liquid hydrogen leak at an interface between the rocket and mobile launcher.

Prior to rolling back to the VAB, teams successfully repaired the leak and demonstrated updated tanking procedures. While in the VAB, teams performed standard maintenance to repair minor damage to the foam and cork on the thermal protection system and recharge or replace batteries throughout the system.

Full launch coverage is as follows:

Friday, Nov. 11

7 p.m.: NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing following a mission management team meeting with the following participants:

■ Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
■ Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy
■ Emily Nelson, chief flight director, NASA Johnson
■ Melody Lovin, weather officer, U.S. Space Launch Delta 45

Saturday, Nov. 12

12 p.m.: NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing on the status of the countdown with the following participants:

■ Jeremy Parsons, Exploration Ground Systems Program deputy manager, NASA Kennedy
Melody Lovin, weather officer, U.S. Space Launch Delta 45

Sunday, Nov. 13

2:30 p.m.: Coverage of tanking operations to load propellant into the SLS rocket begins, including views of the rocket and Launch Control Center and audio from a commentator.

9:30 p.m.: Coverage of launch begins. Coverage will continue through translunar injection and spacecraft separation, setting Orion on its path to the Moon.

3 a.m.: Coverage of the postlaunch news conference will follow approximately one hour after the live launch broadcast ends. Coverage start time is subject to change, based on the exact liftoff time. The postlaunch news conference will include the following participants:

■ Bill Nelson, NASA administrator
■ Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
■ Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems Program manager, Kennedy
■ John Honeycutt, Space Launch System Program manager, Marshall
■ Howard Hu, Orion Program manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
■ Emily Nelson, chief flight director, Johnson

7:30 a.m.: Coverage of Orion’s first outbound trajectory burn on the way to the Moon. Coverage start time is subject to change, based on the exact liftoff time.

8:50 a.m.: Coverage of first Earth views from Orion during outbound coast to the Moon.

Live NASA TV coverage leading to launch will begin with commentary of tanking operations at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, followed by launch coverage beginning at 9:30 p.m. Launch coverage will stream on the NASA website, as well as Facebook, Twitch, NASA YouTube, and in 4k on NASA’s UHD channel.

WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV

Similar Stories