Artemis I Launches Today: How To Watch First Leg Of NASA's Moon Mission

Artemis I Livestream: NASA is launching Artemis I, the first leg of the Artemis Moon mission, on Monday, August 29, 2022. The launch window for Artemis I will remain open from 6:03 pm to 8:03 pm IST. 

Artemis I is an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and is the first integrated test of NASA's deep space exploration systems.

Source : NASA

Artemis I Livestream: NASA is launching Artemis I, the first leg of the Artemis Moon mission, on Monday, August 29, 2022. The launch window for Artemis I will remain open from 6:03 pm IST to 8:03 pm IST. 

Artemis I is an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and is the first integrated test of NASA's deep space exploration systems. The Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the ground systems at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are the US space agency's deep space exploration systems. 

The uncrewed flight will take off from Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis Project, the first human mission since 1972, aims to carry the first woman, and the first person of colour to the Moon, by 2024.

The Artemis mission has three stages, Artemis I, II, and III.

How To Watch The Launch Of Artemis I Live?

The coverage for the fuelling of the SLS rocket on the Artemis I mission began at 9:30 pm IST on August 28.

Despite the rain around the Artemis launchpad, the weather "hold" has been lifted, and NASA Exploration Ground Systems have started the process of chilldown for the fuel line and tanks, the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a mission update.

At around 11:38 am IST, the process of fast filling of liquid oxygen into the SLS core stage began, NASA said in a mission update. The core stage was eight per cent filled with liquid oxygen. 

At around 11:57 am IST, the slow filling of liquid hydrogen into the SLS core stage began.

SLS is loaded with more than 7,00,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants, according to NASA. 

The launch coverage for Artemis I will begin at 6:30 am ET (4:00 pm IST) on August 29. Launch coverage will continue through translunar injection and spacecraft separation, which will set Orion on its path to lunar orbit. 

One can watch the livestream of the launch of Artemis I in 4K on the official YouTube channel of NASA.

People can also watch the Artemis mega Moon rocket lift off while they chat on the official NASA channel on Twitch, an interactive live streaming service. 

The launch of Artemis I will also be streamed live via the official Facebook account of NASA. 

NASA will also broadcast the launch of Artemis I on the official Twitter account of the US space agency. 

LIVE NOW: The #Artemis era of exploration begins today with @NASAArtemis I, the first flight test of the rocket and spacecraft that will take humanity to the Moon. The launch window opens at 8:33am ET (12:33 UTC). https://t.co/mFyoeRMC6q

— NASA (@NASA) August 29, 2022

The guests who will be present for the launch day webcast include actors like Chris Evans, Jack Black and Keke Palmer. 

NASA will also deliver comprehensive coverage of post-launch activities. There will be a post-launch news conference at around 12:00 pm ET (9:30 pm IST) on August 29. 

At 5:30 pm ET on August 29 (2:30 am IST on August 30), NASA will show the world Orion's first imagery of the Earth following translunar injection.

What Is Artemis I All About?

Artemis I will be an uncrewed test flight. Orion will be carried atop the super-heavy lift rocket, SLS, without any human in the capsule. If Artemis I is successful, it will be certified that the SLS and Orion can be used for the other two Artemis missions, which will be crewed flights. 

The duration of Artemis I will be 42 days, three hours, and 20 minutes. Orion will launch atop SLS, the most powerful rocket in the world, and will fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown. Over the course of the mission, Orion will travel a distance of approximately 4,50,000 kilometres from Earth and 64,000 kilometres beyond the far side of the Moon. The spacecraft will stay in space longer than any human spacecraft has without docking to a space station. Orion will also return home faster and hotter than ever before. 

Artemis I will demonstrate the performance of both Orion and SLS and test NASA's capabilities to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. The first uncrewed test flight of the Artemis Program will pave the way for future missions to the lunar vicinity, including landing the first woman and the first person of colour on the surface of the Moon. 

The objective of Artemis I is to set the stage for human exploration into deep space, where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems near the Moon needed for lunar exploration missions and to other destinations farther from Earth, including the Red Planet.