NASA’s oft-delayed Space Launch System, or SLS, is finally ready for launch. The megarocket is designed to launch vehicles into deep space, and its first mission is called Artemis I. NASA is sending an uncrewed Orion space capsule deep into space and into a long orbit around the Moon before coming back to Earth.
It’s taken an extremely long time for the SLS to get to this point. It was scheduled to take off on its debut flight on August 29th, 2022, but its big entrance has since been scrubbed twice, rescheduled multiple times, and faced down two hurricanes. It was originally supposed to launch in 2017 but has suffered mishaps and mismanagement, leading to many delays. It’s also vastly over budget; developing the rocket cost a stunning $11 billion, and it will cost an estimated $4.1 billion per launch.
The rocket is designed to usher in a new generation of deep space exploration and may eventually carry human explorers farther into space than we’ve ever gone before. But first, it will have to get off the ground. Check back here for the latest stories as SLS launches and the Artemis I mission gets underway.
Dec 11, 2022, 5:56 PM UTCEmma Roth
NASA successfully completes its Artemis I mission
The Orion spacecraft safely splashed down into the Pacific Ocean after a historic mission around the Moon.
Dec 10, 2022, 1:30 PM UTCGeorgina Torbet
How to watch the end of NASA’s Artemis I mission
Splashdown is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th, in the Pacific Ocean.
Nov 29, 2022, 8:11 PM UTCGeorgina Torbet
At its halfway point, NASA’s Artemis I mission breaks a record
The spacecraft reached a point 268,563 miles away from Earth, farther than any other human-rated spacecraft has traveled.
Nov 22, 2022, 5:46 PM UTCGeorgina Torbet
NASA’s Orion spacecraft makes close flyby of the Moon and heads on to orbit
Back on Earth, NASA is examining some damage to the Space Launch System’s mobile launcher.
Nov 17, 2022, 6:00 PM UTCJennifer Pattison Tuohy
Putting Amazon’s Alexa in space is harder than you think
We sent our smart home reviewer to check out an Alexa designed for space travel before it launched on its journey to the Moon.
Nov 16, 2022, 7:29 AM UTCMary Beth Griggs and Andrew J. Hawkins
NASA’s Artemis 1 mission is finally headed toward the Moon
The Space Launch System sent the Orion spacecraft on its way. It’s a brand-new era for the US government’s space program.
- MLiftoff!
NASA’s megarocket, the Space Launch System has launched!
- MWe are go for launch!
The countdown clock has just started, we’re less than 8 minutes away from the launch of the Artemis 1 mission.
- MPlease hold.
NASA’s Artemis 1 mission was scheduled to launch at 1:04AM ET. But the launch is now in a holding pattern while engineers try to figure out how much work still needs to be done after troubleshooting multiple issues, including an ‘intermittent’ hydrogen leak a ‘problematic’ ethernet cable.
- M“The ethernet switch has been replaced.”
The ‘problematic’ ethernet switch is gone, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Right now, they’re still aiming for a 1:04AM ET launch, but it’s pretty likely that will slip into the two hour window. New launch time: still tbd.
- MA “bad ethernet switch” is causing issues for the Artemis 1 launch.
They’ve found the radar issue on the range...and it’s a “bad ethernet switch” says Derrol Nail, a launch commentator for NASA. It’s possible to fix, but might take about 70 minutes.
- M“Work is complete.”
NASA’s Red Crew is back, and hydrogen has started flowing again. But now the range is ‘no-go’ for launch, because a radar site is down. It’s always something.
- MNot quite a normal day at the office.
Here’s the Red Crew headed out to fix the hydrogen leak.
- MThe Red Crew is going in.
With just hours to go before the latest launch window opens for NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, a small team of technicians is about to enter the launch area to try to fix an intermittent hydrogen leak.
NASA says it should take the Red Crew about 15 minutes to “torque the packing nuts” at the base of the mobile launcher. Watch NASA’s coverage, or follow along with us as we watch the launch attempt.
- MNASA is now “tracking an intermittent leak.”
Well, crap. There’s a leak in the ‘core stage replenish valve’ inside the mobile launcher. NASA’s team is monitoring the situation, and making plans to potentially send in a specialized team called the ‘Red Crew’ into the launch area to make adjustments.
- MThe weather is (still) looking good for launch.
The latest forecast from the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron has the probability of good weather at 90 percent. It’s always nice when they get to be the bearer of good news — they’re no strangers to calling the whole thing off.
- MThe sun has gone down on SLS.
And things seem to be going well. <Knocks wood.> There was a “little bit of leakage” of the hydrogen, but it’s still within range, according to the NASA broadcast.
Nov 15, 2022, 10:15 PM UTCMary Beth Griggs
NASA’s megarocket is about to blast off toward the Moon
Here’s a cheat sheet for the Artemis I mission
- MIt’s time to fuel up!
In a few minutes, NASA will start loading propellant into the SLS in preparation for its scheduled launch time at 1:04AM ET. Coverage has already started on NASA TV.
Nov 15, 2022, 4:10 PM UTCGeorgina Torbet
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket weathers the storm
The rocket is currently on track for launch later this week.
Nov 15, 2022, 4:08 PM UTCEmma Roth and Mary Beth Griggs
How to watch NASA’s Artemis I SLS megarocket launch
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming launch
Nov 9, 2022, 8:42 PM UTCMary Beth Griggs
NASA’s Artemis I launch is delayed again as Tropical Storm Nicole approaches
The next launch attempt will happen early on November 16th.
Nov 3, 2022, 7:31 PM UTCGeorgina Torbet
The next attempt to launch the Artemis I mission will be at night
The rocket will begin rolling back out to Launch Pad 39B just after midnight on Friday, November 4th.
Sep 26, 2022, 4:37 PM UTCJustine Calma
Hurricane Ian pushes NASA to roll back Artemis I rocket
It’s a big delay for the mission
Sep 23, 2022, 9:58 PM UTCMary Beth Griggs
NASA’s Artemis I launch faces a new obstacle: the weather
SLS could make its debut as soon as Tuesday, but a storm is a-brewing
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