Get ready for NASA's return to the Moon with the Artemis program! Named for the twin of Apollo, the Artemis program plans to land the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon this decade. Astronauts last stepped foot on the Moon in December 1972, nearly 50 years ago.
Artemis I is the first test flight of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Systems: the Orion Spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center. The primary goal of Artemis I is to test the safety of the crew module during entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery. It will provide a foundation for human space exploration before the first crewed flight on Artemis II. Ten small satellites onboard Artemis I will perform their own experiments and technology demonstrations during the 4-week demonstration.
Initially set to launch in August, several setbacks, including a leak in the hydrogen fuel tank, hurricane Ian and tropical storm Nicole, have delayed the launch of Artemis I. The launch window opens at 1:04 am EST, Wednesday, November 16. Tune in to NASA TV to watch the launch live.
Although the mission is uncrewed, the capsule's seats will not be empty. Three "moonikins", human-shaped test dummies, will be on board to test the new spacesuit designed for the Orion spacecraft and gather data on radiation levels during lunar missions.