NASA's Space Launching System.

NASA's Space Launching System.

NASA's Space Launching System.

21st Century Lunar Expedition Artemis. If all goes well, the first spacecraft of this mission managed by the US space agency NASA, Artemis 1, will fly to the moon on Saturday, September 3, 2022. In 2025, the third phase of the Artemis project will put humans back on the moon. One of the main goals of this mission is to inspire new generations and advance scientific research on the moon. However, its main goal is to find solutions to the various obstacles to sending humans to Mars in the next decade. That's what NASA said.

The main thrust of the Artemis mission is a megarocket, the Space Launching System. Abbreviated as SLS. These megarockets will one by one carry the rest of the project's spacecraft, starting with Artemis 1. According to NASA, it is the most powerful rocket in the world so far.

SLS will be used to transport the Orion spacecraft, astronauts and essential cargo of the Artemis mission. According to NASA, the SLS will be progressively improved for future missions to deep space, including Mars.

SLS is currently the only US government-owned rocket capable of sending the Orion spacecraft and other payloads directly into lunar orbit. The Moon's orbital distance is about 1,000 times greater than that of the International Space Station in low Earth orbit. To get there, this high-powered megarocket will travel with the main spacecraft Orion at a speed of 24,500 miles per hour.

The Space Launching System uses four powerful rocket engines named RS-25. The core of the rocket will contain 733,000 gallons of supercooled liquid hydrogen and oxygen. This hydrogen and oxygen will be used as fuel for the RS-25 engine. In addition, there will be two solid boosters on either side of the main body of the SLS that can be divided into five sections.

The 'SLS Block 1' version of the rocket will be used for the Artemis-1 mission. It will be able to deliver a mass of more than 27 metric tons to the moon's orbit 450,000 km from Earth. The height of the rocket is 322 feet. Its mass in steady state is about 26 lakh kg. Its weight (not mass) for acceleration during launch will exceed about 4 million kg! This weight is 15 percent more than the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo missions.

The rocket, however, will not carry any astronauts on this journey. The Orion spacecraft will carry 10 CubeSats for lunar orbit. Artemis 2 and 3 missions will use the 'SLS Block 1 Crew' version. It can deliver about 38 tons of mass to the destination. According to NASA, it will be possible to send up to 46 tons of goods to the Moon and Mars later through the 'SLS Block 2' version.

It needs to be said that, although not the US government, several rockets made by private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin can carry astronauts and heavy cargo in such long-distance space travel. Notable among these are Space-X's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Such private rockets will also be used in some missions of Project Artemis.

Source: NASA.

Space Launch System launch date?

As of earlier that month, the first launch was originally scheduled for 8:30 am EDT, 29 August 2022. It was postponed to 2:17 pm EDT (18:17 UTC), 3 September 2022, after the launch director called a scrub due to a faulty temperature sensor.

NASA Artemis 1 ?

Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. Mission website and press kit...

Planned launches?

As of earlier that month, the first launch was originally scheduled for 8:30 am EDT, 29 August 2022. It was postponed to 2:17 pm EDT (18:17 UTC), 3 September 2022, after the launch director called a scrub. due to a faulty temperature sensor.

Artemis rocket size?

The 100 meter-tall rocket on the launch pad for Artemis 1 is among the largest ever built, but it's only the tip of the iceberg—the eye-catching evidence of much broader activity below the surface.