NASA is set to roll out its behemoth Space Launch System to the Launch Pad . This time it aims to launch to the Moon.

A brilliant blue sky serves as a backdrop for the Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B ।। Credit : NASA

NASA's Artemis-1 Moon Mission's launch is just around the corner . This historic launch has been years in the making . NASA finally is going to send their Orion Capsule on its journey to the moon . Orion will sit atop on NASA's Most powerful Rocket ever , The Space Launch System ( SLS ) . Here's everything , you should know about this mission .

When Artemis-1 Will Be Launched ?

In an interview Mr. Pete Paceley , Principal Director at Draper , Company responsible for much of Artemis-1's Guidance-Software said — August was ‘ Looking Preety Good ’ for launch .

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After somedays on 20th July, Wednesday NASA declered a provisional Launch Date of 29th August for Artemis-1 . That means we are just few days from seeing SLS and Orion Capsule take flight . SLS and Orion will start their slow roll-out to the Launch Pad aboard Crawler Transporter 2 on 18th August .

NASA's Artemis 1 stack on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its "wet dress rehearsal" test in June 2022. (Image credit: NASA's Exploration Ground Systems via Twitter)

Why Artemis-1 is A Huge Milestone For NASA ?

Artemis-1 mission is one of the two launches set for this Summer or in between September , which can start a new era of Space-Mission . The another one is the Orbital Maiden Flight of SpaceX's Starship Launch Vehicle , which NASA has contracted for their Artemis-3 , Moon Landing Mission .

Artemis-1 is going to be the first a series of missions that NASA plans to use to establish and maintain a permanent presence on the Moon , which'll act a Spring-Board for sending Astronauts to Mars . Artemis-1 is NASA's first sucha a big mission to the Moon , since the last Moon Landing Mission carried out by Apollo-17 in 1972 .

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This Artemis-1 Mission will launch aboard the NASA's most powerful Rocket yet . Space Launch System ( SLS ) will produce about 9.5 Million LBS of thrust and carry a payload capacity of 86 Tons ( Approximately 1.9 Million LBS ) up to Low-Earth-Orbit ( LEO ) . If we compare the thrust can produced by SLS with NASA's Saturn-V Rocket , used for the Apollo Missions produced 7.5 Million LBS of Thrust .

Credit : NASA

What is Actually Going to Happen After The Launch of Artemis-1 ?

The European Space Agency ( ESA ) , one of NASA's key international collaborators for this vital Artemis-1 Mission , has published a useful step by step guide outlining the Steps SLS and Orion Capsule will carry out after launch .

The SLS will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
After the Launch Orion Capsule will detach from SLS and will deploy into Low-Earth-Orbit ( LEO ) .
After orbiting the Earth , Orion Capsule will be slung towards the Moon , there it will perform several main engine burns before making its way back towards the Earth .

Also Read :: Scientists Fixed The Hydrogen Leak in Artemis-1

If Artemis-1 does launch on 29th August , it is expected to return and make a splashdown over the Pacific Ocean on 10th October . The Mission will have lasted around 42 days .

Credit : NASA

What Next , After Artemis-1 ?

If and when the Artemis-1 mission is successfully completed , NASA will then start preparing for their Artemis-2 Mission , it will be NASA's first Crewed Mission to the Moon since Apollo-17 . Artemis-2 will perform the same maneuver as Artemis-1 . That means its crew will travel around the Moon and will back to Earth . For the Artemis-3 Mission , NASA will use SpaceX's Starship Rocket to land Astronauts on the Lunar-Surface . To do this NASA has signed a $2.9 Billion Contract , with Elon Musk's private Company SpaceX , Last Year .

This video of @NASA’s @EuropaClipper spacecraft shows it moving into JPL's main clean room, where the team will complete its assembly in preparation for launch in October 2024. Europa Clipper will explore Jupiter’s icy moon Europa https://t.co/RBXB54F9uG pic.twitter.com/Ff26BHSctg
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) August 15, 2022

Therefore , Artemis-1 is a crucial first mission for NASA's highly ambitious Artemis Project . And if all goes according to the plan , it is only a few short days away .