NASA Picks Possible Launch Dates for Artemis I Moon Mission

The Artemis I Moon mission is one step closer to flying. The Space Launch System,

[{"selector":"#anim-666685cd-247b-4799-a3b9-a16827b74d82 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5ae71bb-f4b3-4334-a741-5f1abfe0708a","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -430.61072%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -121.08773446400001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -41.166384832000006%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -15.458924848%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -6.717527232%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}]

or SLS -- also known as the "Mega Moon Rocket" -- and the Orion spacecraft now have three dates marked on the calendar.

[{"selector":"#anim-f94b3474-f036-4134-a7d0-6d449762af6e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e54c9513-4fa9-4bb5-a68b-46d79b749390","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dbbf274-9457-49fc-99bb-fbfba735fb48","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.13465%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

During a media teleconference on Wednesday, NASA identified August 29, September 2 and September 5 as possible launch dates.

[{"selector":"#anim-28f52172-448b-46c6-849a-f046fc73b520 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2700c6d8-44e0-462c-852c-a489da341d8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75006638-7cc6-4e5f-b0ac-ac36680a60a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.27545%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Meeting those dates depends on the expected final preparations going forward and

[{"selector":"#anim-f32d963f-cc7e-4d9b-bc8a-1d5678f199da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b55e554f-8bc0-4581-bc74-13a5a83a2689","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-406d7dac-5e25-4ce2-a091-a2ac2ddcf406","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.67665%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

the cooperation of the weather at the launch site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

[{"selector":"#anim-7a7264dd-637d-48ab-940f-6e52a0916dd1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba5e35f7-848f-4f2e-abec-fec1cf4e919e","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -312.60285%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -87.90392142%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -29.884832460000002%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -11.222442315%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -4.876604459999999%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}]

The launch window and duration varies depending on the date. For example, the Aug. 29 launch will begin at 5:33 a.m.

[{"selector":"#anim-d2e59573-19e2-459b-9994-6a0c04d614c5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e38f153a-18f8-4ac1-aca0-62cd42d366da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-711559d9-e807-4746-b4d5-9d9ddd6add02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 125.66019%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

PT during the opening of a two-hour window and will kick off a 42-day mission that will bring the spacecraft back to Earth on Oct. 10.

[{"selector":"#anim-e913e425-311b-429f-a756-45b9034108d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ebb116b-2795-4ecb-a0fe-deae44b17f6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df0ded0b-23cf-4df8-bccb-17cf54fc884d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

NASA will set its chosen target date about a week before launch.

[{"selector":"#anim-8bc39332-0fdf-479d-b323-58a8e7859c6c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47c753d5-a1e9-4a5e-b249-8e2e38aed789","keyframes":[{"transform":"rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","opacity":0},{"transform":"none","opacity":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both","iterations":1}]