The space agency will host a series of Artemis 1 webcasts this week and next, ahead of the uncrewed launch of NASA’s Space Launch System’s first megacarriage from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Updates begin Monday, August 22, and run through opening day, featuring special guests such as actors Chris Evans, Jack Black and Keke Palmer. You can already see live views of the Artemis 1 moon rocket at the top of its pad in live fe The last time a rocket this powerful thundered off a KSC pad was in 1973 when a Saturn V moon rocket launched Skylab into orbit, marking the end of the Apollo era, so this month’s event should be quite the spectacle. According to NASA (opens in new tab), the space agency will provide comprehensive coverage of pre-launch, launch and post-launch activities for Artemis I when it’s time to light the candle. This landmark unmanned glass rehearsal around the moon will clear the path for a manned lunar flight test with Artemis 2 in 2024 and an actual lunar landing by 2025 as part of Artemis 3. Those lucky enough to take part in the Artemis 1 spectacle in Florida will experience the shock and awe of 8.8 million pounds of gravity-defying thrust propelling the sleek SLS rocket and Orion space capsule into the skies. For the rest of us, NASA has just released its free live stream schedule to watch the mission from the safety and comfort of our homes. Live event coverage will be broadcast on Space.com thanks to NASA TV, the NASA mobile app (opens in new tab) and the agency’s official website (opens in new tab), with pre-launch activities on Monday, August 22. For anxious finger-tappers, the launch countdown (opens in new tab) begins on Saturday, August 27, at 10:23 AM. ET. Sure, it might not offer the same epic experience that Earth’s creepy will, but it’s the next best thing, and you don’t have to worry about the heat, parking hassles, or massive crowds.
The stages of the Artemis 1 mission to the moon. (Image: NASA) On opening day, a live broadcast of the festivities includes celebrity appearances by Jack Black, Chris Evans and Keke Palmer, as well as a patriotic performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” courtesy of Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock. Next we will hear “America the Beautiful” performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Here is a summary of the launch activities leading up to liftoff.
Monday August 22: Artemis 1 Flight Readiness Check
One week from launch, on Monday, August 22, NASA’s Artemis 1 mission managers will meet for a daily flight readiness review to decide whether the Artemis 1 SLS rocket is ready for launch. At 7 p.m. EDT (23:00 GMT), NASA will hold a press conference to report the results of that meeting and whether the Artemis 1 lunar rocket is still on track for its August 29 landing. See who will appear in this update.
Janet Petro, director, Kennedy Space Center Jim Free, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch Director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy Howard Hu, Orion program manager, NASA Johnson Space Center John Honeycutt, Space Launch System program manager, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Friday, August 26: NASA Space Industry Exploration Update
On Friday, August 26, NASA will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. EDT (14:00 GMT) to highlight the commercial space industry’s role in the Artemis 1 mission. The briefing will feature experts from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing (which built the Space Launch System), Jacobs Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Airbus.
Jim Free, Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Jeff Zotti, RS-25 program manager, Aerojet Rocketdyne Jennifer Boland-Masterson, director of operations, Michoud Assembly Facility, Boeing Randy Lycans, vice president/general manager of NASA Enterprise Solutions, Jacobs Kelly DeFazio, director of Orion production, Lockheed Martin Doug Hurley, senior director of business development, Northrop Grumman Ralf Zimmermann, Moon and Orion European Service Module Program Leader, Airbus
Saturday, August 27: NASA Artemis 1 countdown begins
Artemis 1’s launch countdown will begin at 10:23 AM. EDT (1423 GMT) on Saturday, August 27. Flight controllers will be called back to their stations that day and begin the two-day countdown to the final launch target.
Saturday, August 27: NASA Artemis 1 prelaunch update
On Saturday, August 27, NASA will hold two briefings to discuss the Artemis 1 mission. The first will be at 11 a.m. EDT (15:00 GMT), when mission managers will meet to review the launch plan for Artemis 1 as well as its mission goals. The briefing will include an overview of the mission, a look at the weather forecast and NASA’s backup plans in case the Aug. 29 launch date is delayed. Backup days for the mission are currently targeted for September 2nd and September 5th.
Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch Director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy Judd Freiling, director of climb and entry flight, Johnson Rick LaBrode, chief flight officer, Johnson Melissa Jones, director of recovery, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy Melody Lovin, meteorologist, Space Launch Delta 45 Jacob Bleacher, Chief Exploration Scientist, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Saturday, August 27: NASA Artemis Moon update on Mars
Following the pre-launch briefing, NASA will hold a press conference on Saturday, August 27 at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), led by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to discuss the agency’s plans to explore the moon, Mars and beyond. NASA has billed the talk as “an update on the agency’s exploration plans from the Moon to Mars” and will include presentations by Nelson and representatives from across the agency’s exploration, space technology and spaceflight industries to outline plans to reach Mars from the moon under the Artemis program.
Bill Nelson, NASA administrator Bhavya Lal, NASA’s associate administrator for technology, policy and strategy; Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Kathy Lueders, NASA Associate, Space Operations Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate Prasun Desai, NASA’s deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate Randy Bresnik, NASA astronaut
Sunday, August 28: NASA Artemis 1 countdown update
On Sunday, August 28, NASA will hold a briefing at 9 a.m. The briefing will review the status of the mission countdown with Jeff Spaulding, NASA’s Artemis 1 senior test manager, as well as Melody Lovin, weather officer with Space Launch Delta 45 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station near KSC.
Jeff Spaulding, NASA’s Artemis I senior test manager Melody Lovin, meteorologist, Space Launch Delta 45
Monday, August 29: 12 a.m. EDT – Artemis 1 Launch Day – Fuel coverage
Monday, August 29th is the first launch attempt for NASA’s Artemis 1 moon mission, and it’s going to be a BIG day. NASA’s webcast activities begin at 12 p.m. EDT (0400 GMT), with a live webcast of the refueling operations, which NASA calls tanking, of the Space Launch System. The SLS rocket’s core stage can hold about 730,000 gallons of supercooled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, so loading this propellant will take hours.
Monday, August 29: 6:30 am ET- Full launch coverage of Artemis 1
NASA’s complete launch coverage for Artemis 1 will begin on August 29 at 6:30 AM. EDT (1030 GMT). This portion of the agency’s webcast will be in English. “Launch coverage will continue via interlunar injection and spacecraft separation, setting Orion on its way to the moon,” NASA wrote in a description.
Monday, August 29: 7:30 am ET- Artemis 1 Spanish broadcast
At 7:30 am EDT (1130 GMT), NASA’s Spanish-language webcast will begin chronicling the Artemis 1 mission. The webcast will run until launch and the first 15 minutes of the mission after liftoff. After launch, you can receive Spanish-language updates about Artemis 1 through NASA’s social media channels en español.
Saturday, August 29: 8:33 am EDT – Artemis 1 Liftoff
This is the moment of truth for NASA’s Artemis 1 mission: the first launch window for the Space Launch System rocket. NASA actually has a two-hour window to try to launch the SLS booster, so liftoff could happen anytime between 8:33 A.M. EDT and 10:33 A.M.
Saturday, August 29: 12 p.m. ET – Artemis 1 post-launch press interview
After the launch, NASA will hold a post-launch press conference, which is scheduled for no earlier than 1 hour after the launch broadcast ends. NASA is currently eyeing a start time of 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) for this update, but that could change as the day progresses. Below are the NASA officials scheduled to speak at the briefing.
Bill Nelson, NASA administrator Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems Program Manager, Kennedy Howard Hu, Orion Program Manager, Johnson John Honeycutt, Space Launch System program manager, Marshall
Saturday, August 29: 4 p.m. EDT – Orion Orbit Burn
If all goes well with the launch, NASA will host a webcast at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) to highlight the first orbital maneuver for the Artemis 1 Orion mission beyond Earth orbit and to the Moon. The time of this…
