NASA Rolls Out Space Launch System Rocket For Artemis 1 Mission; How Long Will It Take?

NASA's highly anticipated first window for launching its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will begin on Aug. 29, and it is expected to be a slow crawl across the ground. Despite having a lengthy development history, it is still ahead of schedule.

NASA Rolls Out Space Launch System for Artemis 1

According to Space.com, the agency had planned for the Artemis 1 SLS rocket to arrive at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B on Aug. 18 before blasting off on Aug. 29. However, on Aug. 15, NASA announced on Twitter that the rollout date had been shifted to Tuesday evening, August 16. NASA will begin rolling out coverage at 3 p.m. EDT.

NASA SLS Slow Rocket Crawl

Kennedy Space Center stated in a press release that the team completed testing the flight termination system over the weekend, which was the last major activity before closing out the rocket and retracting the final access platforms in the Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Florida Today reported.

In the event of an emergency, the flight termination system ( FTS), is designed to destroy the rocket.

If everything goes as planned, one of NASA's historic crawler-transporters will transport SLS from the VAB to pad 39B at a constant maximum speed of 1 mph. The SLS will leave the massive building where it was painstakingly assembled and tested and head to its launchpad. The four-mile trip could take up to 11 hours.

NASA's Space Launch System on Aug. 29

NASA's SLS and Orion capsules are set to land astronauts on the Moon's surface later this decade. Artemis 1, the first flight, is scheduled for Aug. 29, with Artemis II following in 2023 or 2024. Artemis 1 will be an unmanned mission, whereas Artemis II will launch with astronauts.

It will take between 39 and 42 days to launch NASA's Orion capsule into space and around the Moon, depending on the launch time.

Artemis II is designed to transport people and cargo to deep space destinations such as the Moon. It is more powerful than the rockets that currently transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth in low Earth orbit.

SLS has been in development for over a decade, with numerous delays and an ever-increasing budget. It is considered a powerhouse.

It stands just under 100m tall and is expected to be more powerful than the Apollo Saturn vehicles of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It will have enough thrust to not only send astronauts far beyond Earth but also enough equipment and cargo for those crews to stay away for extended periods of time. The rocket, which debuted in March, has rolled out of VAB.

Before the launch, the rocket experienced several delays until the agency decided to have a break. In April, the agency said in a statement that it would move its schedule for the wet dress rehearsal.

In June, the completion of the preflight test became successful on its fourth attempt.

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.