{"id":17046,"date":"2022-11-16T12:37:18","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T12:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/?p=17046"},"modified":"2022-11-16T12:51:37","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T12:51:37","slug":"liftoff-nasas-artemis-i-mega-rocket-launches-orion-to-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/liftoff-nasas-artemis-i-mega-rocket-launches-orion-to-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"Liftoff! NASA\u2019s Artemis I Mega Rocket Launches Orion to Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The following is NASA press release 22-117, sent on November 15, 2022, and is archived here for reference.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Following a successful launch of NASA\u2019s Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, the agency\u2019s Orion spacecraft is on its way to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Carrying an uncrewed Orion, SLS lifted off for its flight test debut at 1:47 a.m. EST Wednesday from Launch Pad 39B at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Artemis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Artemis<\/a> Liftoff! <\/p>\n<p>In case you missed the launch early this morning (EST) from Launch Pad 39B at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, here&#39;s this beast roaring to the moon!<\/p>\n<p>MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fc9jrOAs0H\">https:\/\/t.co\/fc9jrOAs0H<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/brcv4mQMTn\">pic.twitter.com\/brcv4mQMTn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; John Greenewald, Jr. (@blackvaultcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blackvaultcom\/status\/1592860639290339328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The launch is the first leg of a mission in which Orion is planned to travel approximately 40,000 miles beyond the Moon and return to Earth over the course of 25.5 days. Known as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis I<\/a>, the mission is a critical part of NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars exploration approach, in which the agency explores for the benefit of humanity. It\u2019s an important test for the agency before flying astronauts on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-s-first-flight-with-crew-important-step-on-long-term-return-to-the-moon-missions-to\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis II<\/a>\u00a0mission.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat an incredible sight to see NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch together for the first time. This uncrewed flight test will push Orion to the limits in the rigors of deep space, helping us prepare for human exploration on the Moon and, ultimately, Mars,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.<\/p>\n<p>After reaching its initial orbit, Orion deployed its solar arrays and engineers began performing checkouts of the spacecraft\u2019s systems. About 1.5 hours into flight, the rocket\u2019s upper stage engine successfully fired for approximately 18 minutes to give Orion the big push needed to send it out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17047\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17047\" style=\"width: 182px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-scaled.jpeg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-17047\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-182x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"182\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-182x300.jpeg 182w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-620x1024.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-930x1536.jpeg 930w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-1241x2048.jpeg 1241w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-150x248.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-450x743.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-1200x1981.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-768x1268.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-600x991.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/52503690288_9bb22ec573_o-scaled.jpeg 1551w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 182px) 100vw, 182px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17047\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA\u2019s Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agency\u2019s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47 a.m. EST, from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: (NASA\/Joel Kowsky)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Orion has separated from its upper stage and is on its outbound coast to the Moon powered by its service module, which is the propulsive powerhouse provided by ESA (European Space Agency) through an international collaboration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s taken a lot to get here, but Orion is now on its way to the Moon,\u201d said Jim Free, NASA deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. \u201cThis successful launch means NASA and our partners are on a path to explore farther in space than ever before for the benefit of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Over the next several hours, a series of 10 small science investigations and technology demonstrations, called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launching-science-and-technology.html\">CubeSats<\/a>, will deploy from a ring that connected the upper stage to the spacecraft. Each CubeSat has its own mission that has the potential to fill gaps in our knowledge of the solar system or demonstrate technologies that may benefit the design of future missions to explore the Moon and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>Orion\u2019s service module will also perform the first of a series of burns to keep Orion on course toward the Moon approximately eight hours after launch. In the coming days, mission controllers at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston will conduct\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/additional-artemis-i-test-objectives-to-provide-added-confidence-in-capabilities-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">additional checkouts<\/a>\u00a0and course corrections as needed. Orion is expected to fly by the Moon on Nov. 21, performing a close approach of the lunar surface on its way to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/orion-will-go-the-distance-in-retrograde-orbit-during-artemis-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">distant retrograde orbit<\/a>, a highly stable orbit thousands of miles beyond the Moon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Space Launch System rocket delivered the power and performance to send Orion on its way to the Moon,\u201d said Mike Sarafin, Artemis I mission manager. \u201cWith the accomplishment of the first major milestone of the mission, Orion will now embark on the next phase to test its systems and prepare for future missions with astronauts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Kennedy\u2019s Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 4 where they rode out Hurricane Nicole. Following the storm, teams conducted thorough assessments of the rocket, spacecraft, and associated ground systems and confirmed there were no significant impacts from the severe weather.<\/p>\n<p>Engineers previously\u00a0rolled the rocket back\u00a0to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Sept. 26 ahead of Hurricane Ian and after waving off two previous launch attempts Aug. 29 due to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/artemis\/2022\/08\/30\/nasa-targets-sept-3-for-next-artemis-i-moon-mission-launch-attempt\/\">faulty temperature sensor<\/a>, and Sept. 4 due to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/artemis\/2022\/09\/03\/nasa-to-stand-down-on-artemis-i-launch-attempts-in-early-september-reviewing-options\/\">liquid hydrogen leak<\/a>\u00a0at an interface between the rocket and mobile launcher.\u00a0Prior to rolling back to the VAB, teams successfully repaired the leak and demonstrated updated tanking procedures. While in the VAB, teams performed standard\u202fmaintenance\u202fto repair minor damage to the foam and cork on the\u202fthermal protection system\u202fand recharge or replace batteries throughout the system.<\/p>\n<p>Artemis I is supported by thousands of people around the world, from contractors who built Orion and SLS, and the ground infrastructure needed to launch them, to international and university partners, to small businesses supplying subsystems and components.<\/p>\n<p>Through\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis<\/a>\u202fmissions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone for astronauts on the way to Mars.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"dnd-atom-wrapper type-image context-side_image\" contenteditable=\"false\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following is NASA press release 22-117, sent on November 15, 2022, and is archived here for reference. Following a successful launch of NASA\u2019s Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, the agency\u2019s Orion spacecraft is on its way to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Carrying an uncrewed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17048,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","transcript_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17046","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-science","8":"category-space"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/11-16-2022-4-35-49-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17046"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17051,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17046\/revisions\/17051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}