Artemis 1 will be launching very soon, and NASA is inviting everyone to see it go to space.
NASA has recently announced it will host a series of Artemis 1 webcasts from Aug. 22 through Aug. 29 that will include special guests, per Space.com.
Artemis 1 is an uncrewed mission to determine if NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule spacecraft could survive a trip to space.
Artemis 1 Webcast Details
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, after being rolled out to the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis I mission is the first integrated test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Launch of the uncrewed flight test is targeted for no earlier than Aug. 29.
NASA mentioned in its announcement that it would provide coverage of the prelaunch, launch, and postlaunch activities for its Artemis 1 mission and the integrated test of the Orion spacecraft, SLS, and its ground systems at its Kennedy Space Center (KSD) in Florida.
The space agency's coverage of the prelaunch, launch, and post launch actitivies can be viewed for free on NASA Television, the NASA app, and its official website.
NASA's prelaunch media briefings will start from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28, while it will broadcast Artemis 1's launch on Aug. 29. These coverages, which can be viewed live on webcasts, will cover separate topics leading up until the mission's launch date.
For instance, NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing following the agency fight readiness review on Aug. 22 at 7 PM EDT with personnel responsible for the mission's launch at the Kennedy Space Center.
On Aug. 26, the space agency will broadcast a prelaunch media briefing on the role of industry in advancing exploration at 10 AM, while on Aug. 27, It will hold a prelaunch media briefing on the status of the countdown at 9 AM and 2:30 PM.
On Aug. 28, NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing on the status of the SLS countdown.
Here is a comprehensive schedule list of the prelaunch media briefings and the people who will attend them:
- Aug. 22 - 7 PM
- Janet Petro, director, Kennedy Space Center
- Jim Free, associate administrator for 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's Johnson Space Center
- John Honeycutt, Space Launch System Program manager, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
- Aug. 26 - 10 AM
- Jim Free, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Jeff Zotti, RS-25 program director, 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, head of Moon programs and Orion European Service Module, Airbus
- Aug. 27 - 11 AM
- Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy
- Judd Freiling, ascent and entry flight director, Johnson
- Rick LaBrode, lead flight director, Johnson
- Melissa Jones, recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy
- Melody Lovin, weather officer, Space Launch Delta 45
- Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Aug. 27 - 2:30 PM
- Bill Nelson, NASA administrator
- Bhavya Lal, NASA associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy
- Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
- Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate
- Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate
- Prasun Desai, NASA deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate
- Randy Bresnik, NASA astronaut
- Aug. 28 - 9 AM
- Jeff Spaulding, Artemis I senior NASA test director
- Melody Lovin, weather officer, Space Launch Delta 45
Launch Day Coverage
NASA will begin coverage of the Artemis 1's launch at 12 AM with commentary of tanking operations to load the propellant needed for the SLS rocket, which was rehearsed during its four wet dress rehearsals.
On 6:30 AM, the space agency will cover the launch in full in English, with translunar injection and spacecraft separation which will set Orion on its path to the moon.
Spanish-speaking audiences will have to wait until 7:30 AM to watch the coverage in Spanish on NASA's social media accounts. This broadcast will continue around 15 minutes after liftoff.
The launch itself can be viewed on-site by journalists inside the Kennedy Space Center's auditorium on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the deadline has passed for media accreditation for in-person coverage of the launch.
The space agency will then broadcast the postlaunch news conference at 12 NN, approx. one hour after the live launch broadcast ends. This conference will be attended by NASA administer Bill Nelson, Sarafin, Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems Program manager, Kennedy, Hu, and Honeycutt.
At 4 PM, NASA will broadcast the Orion spacecraft's first outbound trajectory burn on the way to the moon, while its coverage of Orion's first view of Earth during its outbound coast to the Moon will be covered live on 5:30 PM.
Related Article: 10 Things To Know About the Artemis Program and the Next Moon Landing
