“We’re in the final stretch.”
I roll out, spread out
The mission, which NASA is calling “humanity’s return to the moon,” is taking a big step forward after years of hiatus.
The space agency has announced its first uncrewed mission around the moon, called Artemis I, which is now set to launch from the launch pad on August 18 and finally launch on August 29.
The first fallback date is set for Sept. 2 if something goes wrong — and given NASA’s disastrous track record, that’s certainly an option here.
“We’re in the final stretch,” Artemis I launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said during a press conference Wednesday, confirming the Artemis I launch window.
Blackwell-Thompson also confirmed that the final power-up for Orion, the capsule that sits atop the giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, was successful this weekend.
Fingers crossed
It almost seemed like Murphy’s Law had been plaguing NASA for some time. In early June, a report revealed that the space agency was years behind its launch schedule.
Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the lunar surface — which could eventually deliver the first woman and first person of color to the moon — could also be delayed by about two and a half years, according to the report.
The bad news didn’t stop there, with budget constraints and fuel leaks hampering the space agency’s efforts.
Getting back to the moon is proving to be perhaps a little more difficult than scientists would like.
Progress is always encouraging, but we’ll still pray it doesn’t rain on the agency’s parade—obviously NASA needs a win.
More in off-world news: Fishermen have reportedly found giant chunks of Chinese space junk
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