It is finally here!!! Artemis 1, the first launch of SLS (Space Launch System) is scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday night (really Wednesday morning but who starts the day at 12am)*. SLS is NASA’s most powerful rocket ever (about 15% more than the Saturn V, the agency’s last ride to the Moon). Coming in well over budget all eyes are on this launch but there is so much more to be excited about than its daunting price tag.
Once in orbit, Artemis 1 will be focusing on Orion, the vehicle taking human’s to lunar orbit next go around (Artemis 2). There will be some test dummy’s in the cabin to help us gain a better understanding the cislunar (about the moon) environment for our future astronauts. In addition to Orion, there are a bunch of mighty little cubesats doing cool stuff like visiting nearby asteroids and doing lunar experiments themselves (a JAXA cubesat is going to try and be the smallest spacecraft to land on the moon)!
Excited Now?!?!? Great! Lets get to the details on how to watch the launch!
The current launch window is scheduled to open at 1:07 am EDT (6:07 UTC) 11/16 with coverage starting at 10:30 pm EDT 11/15 (3:30 UTC 11/16). Tanking coverage will fortunately be at a reasonable hour of 3:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC)
To watch this coverage just tune into NASA TV on your laptop or phone. If you have a smart TV, NASA has a YouTube channel it simultaneously airs its broadcasts which I often use since it is easy to pull up directly on the TV.
If you want to watch with some fellow space geeks this article has some good suggestions on watch parties.
If you are already going to Florida (or are a local), this blog has the low down on all the local spots to check out. Also, I am very jealous; I am having serious FOMO and will definitely be down there for Artemis 2.
*Between hydrogen leaks and hurricanes there have been many delays between this original post and now but hopefully this will be my last update!
Happy Exploring!
