Artemis 1 launch updates: NASA's Orion escapes Earth's gravity, Moon journey begins

The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) has separated from the Orion spacecraft, NASA confirmed. The ICPS, after deploying ten CubeSats, will head toward the sun in a heliocentric orbit. Meanwhile, Orion will continue on its lunar journey.

The uncrewed Artemis 1 mission launches successfully at 12:17 pm IST from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida kickstarting the Artemis Program.

NASA confirmed the completion of the trans-lunar injection burn from the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System's (ICPS) RL-10 engine. The sequence lasted 18 minutes, and the ICPS will now separate from the Orion before deploying ten CubeSats. Orion has escaped the Earth's gravity and is now on its way to the Moon at a speed of over 36,000 km per hour.

The trans-lunar injection burn of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) has begun to help Orion escape Earth's gravity and move into a lunar trajectory. This process will take roughly 18 minutes. The ICPS is equipped with one RL-10 engine which generates over 24,000 pounds of thrust. It is travelling over 28,000 km per hour.

Mission teams will execute the trans-lunar injection (TLI) maneuver that will send Orion on its way to the Moon. The ICPS (second stage of SLS rocket) will fire its RL-10 engine for 18 minutes. 

All four of Orion's solar arrays have unfurled partially 22 minutes after launch. Next step is the trans-lunar injection to send Orion toward the Moon.

Mission teams fired the second stage for 30 seconds for the perigee maneuver to raise the orbit of the Orion spacecraft. It is now on track for a trans-lunar injection (propulsion toward the Moon) roughly 30 minutes from now. The Orion solar arrays are not completely deployed to prevent damage.

The European Service Module beamed back the first pictures of Earth as seen from the rear end of its solar array wings.

The solar array deployment of the Orion spacecraft has begun in a process that will last 12 minutes. The Orion is still attached to the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). 

The SLS rocket has reached maximum dynamic pressure, or Max-Q, NASA confirmed. The rocket is now travelling nearly 30,000 km per hour. 

NASA confirmed main engine cut off in the core stage at eight minutes into the launch. Orion has entered the Earth's orbit. 

The twin boosters on the core stage of the SLS rocket have successfully separated. 4 minutes 16 seconds into the launch.

NASA's test director Jess Spaulding confirmed that there are no constraints for launch and all systems are 'go' for launch. "All elements polled are 'go’ to proceed with the terminal count. Countdown clock is resuming at T-10 minutes", NASA tweeted. 

Orion, launching atop the SLS rocket, will become the first human-rated spacecraft to travel the farthest distance around the Moon in history. According to NASA, the spacecraft will be sent over 45,000 km beyond the Earth and over 60,000 km beyond the Moon during its three-week-long mission. The most important part of the mission is the success of Orion's heatshield which will endure temperatures up to roughly 2,760 °C and speeding at 32 times the speed of sound for a splashdown into the Pacific Ocean 25 days later.

The indefinite hold on the countdown might lead to another delay in the launch of Artemis 1 which has been stricken with stalling and a hugely inflated budget. The SLS rocket, for instance, was initially planned to take off in 2016, however development costs, budget issues and other problems has delayed its debut launch by six years. NASA's Office of Inspector General, in a report released on November 15, 2021 estimated that the agency would spend $93 billion on the program, taking the price tag of each mission to over $4 billion. 

As the launch countdown is on hold at T-10 minutes, the mission team is working to determine a new launch time. "Upper stage liquid hydrogen is now in 'topping'. The Range Safety Officer is testing the Flight Termination System (FTS)", NASA said in a statement. The hold is currently indefinite due to additional work as we enter the launch window at 11:34 am IST, per the launch commentator.

"We are in our planned hold at T-10 minutes. Currently, the upper stage liquid hydrogen is 78% filled. Core stage has been topped off – both liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are 100% filled", NASA said in an update. "The ethernet switch has been replaced and will be verified".

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma “America the Beautiful” with the Philadelphia Orchestra commemorating the launch of #Artemis I to the Moon. Watch the video below.

The malfunctioned ethernet switch detected at the range has been replaced. Broadcast commentator revealed that the bad switch would have caused trouble in receiving signals from the Launch Termination System during launch. Meanwhile, NASA has decided to hold the countdown at T-10 minutes before the launch window opens at 11:34 am IST. An additional hold of 28 minutes is also planned. 

NASA informed that the bad ethernet switch reported by the Range Safety Officer is being replaced. Meanwhile, Liquid oxygen for both upper and core stage of the SLS rocket are in stable replenish.

"Range Safety Officer reported to NASA Test Director a problem with a bad ethernet switch and the Range is currently working to change it out and reverify it", the agency revealed in an update. "Range reporting that it should take about 70 minutes to do that work". 

The teams are working to resume loading liquid hydrogen (LH2) propellant into the core stage of the SLS rocket as the 'red team' has fixed the intermittent leak detected at the valve near the base of the mobile launcher.  "We are now back in replenish for core stage liquid hydrogen. Team is working on resuming flow to the upper stage". NASA tweeted. 

The team of technicians as a part of the Red team, which had gone to tighten the bolts for the Hydrogen fast fill, has left the launchpad.

The flow of liquid hydrogen to the core stage was stopped due to an intermittent leak on the replenish valve.

Live coverage of SLS Rocket fueling process aboard the Orion spacecraft

The official Artemis I broadcast has begun!

The 'red crew' at NASA Kennedy Space Centre walking down to the rocket on the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B.

The ‘red crew’ deployed to Launch Pad 39B.

The technicians in the “red crew” are specially trained to conduct operations at the launch pad during cryogenic loading operations, have arrived at the launch pad. They will enter the zero deck or base of the mobile launcher to tighten connections to ensure a hydrogen valve used to replenish the core stage remains tight.

NASA has historically sent teams to the pad to conduct inspections during active launch operations as needed.

Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson has cleared for the specialized 'red team' to enter the Launch Pad 39B to tighten bolts on a valve on the mobile launcher. Engineers have stopped flowing liquid hydrogen into the core stage because of a small leak on a hydrogen valve inside of the mobile launcher. 

The red team will go to the launch pad to make sure all of the connections and valves remain tight. The valve is located within the base of the mobile launcher.

The flow of liquid hydrogen fast fill to the core stage has been stopped due to an intermittent leak on the replenish valve. A plan is being worked out by the teams to send out the 'red crew' to the pad to torque packing nuts at the base of the mobile launcher.

Weather is currently 90 per cent favorable for the launch, according to United States Space Force's Melody Lovin. Upper stage liquid oxygen fast fill is complete. The team is conducting the liquid oxygen tank valve test. 

NASA SLS's core stage is full! Finished fast fill and topping. Liquid Oxygen replenishing is currently underway and so is Liquid hydrogen. Next up is chilling down the lines for ICPS, the upper stage for Artemis.

The interim cryogenic propulsion stage’s (ICPS) is the upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket, which will give the Orion spacecraft the propulsion it needs in space to head toward the Moon. Teams are continuously working toward a two-hour launch window that opens at 1:04 a.m. EST, (11.34 IST) from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The core propulsion system for the Cryogenic propulsion stage, which will power the NASA Orion Spacecraft to begin its journey to the Moon is now in fastfill for LH2 and LOX 

NASA's new moon rocket has blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard. The Florida launch brings the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago.

If all goes well with the three-week flight, the rocket will propel an empty crew capsule into a wide orbit around the moon. The capsule will return to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific in December. NASA hopes to send four astronauts around the moon on the next flight, in 2024, and land humans there as early as 2025.

Artemis I will be the first integrated flight test of NASA’s deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond, according to the space administration. 

During this flight, the uncrewed Orion spacecraft will launch on the most powerful rocket in the world and travel thousands of miles beyond the Moon, farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown, over the course of about a three-week mission. 

Artemis I Map Credit: NASA

Four RS-25 engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust during ascent to help send Artemis II astronauts beyond Earth’s orbit on their journey around the Moon. Artemis II is the second flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the world’s most powerful rocket, and the first crewed Artemis mission.

To help power NASA’s next-generation lunar missions, the RS-25 engines have been upgraded for SLS. Two of the four engines have previously flown on a combined 20 space shuttle flights.

The third and fourth engines in the flight set are new engines that include previously flown hardware. The two new RS-25 engines completed acceptance testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Here's a picture of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is illuminated by spotlights atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis I is the first integrated test of our deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. 

Credit: NASA

Teams have begun the slow fill phase to load liquid hydrogen (LH2)  and liquid oxygen (LOX) into the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage. Once LH2 and LOX slow fill is complete, teams will transition to fast fill operations.

When NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch on the uncrewed Artemis I flight test to the Moon, it will be visible along the Space Coast and throughout parts of Florida for a brief minute or so. NASA is targeting the next launch attempt of the Artemis I mission for Wednesday, Nov. 16 during a 120-minute launch window that opens at 1:04 a.m. EST.

Weather permitting, the bright light from the plumes of the Moon rocket’s twin solid rocket boosters and four RS-25 engines could be seen against the dark night sky for up to 70 seconds after liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The rocket and spacecraft will no longer be visible to the naked eye after reaching an altitude of 42,000 feet.

Credit: NASA

With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.

The two-hour window for launch opens at 1:04 a.m. EST or 11:34 am Indian Standard Time (IST) on Nov. 16 for the launch of the Artemis I moon mission. 

What is Artemis?

With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with our commercial and international partners to establish the first long-term human-robotic presence on and around the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and at the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.

Why Go to the Moon?

With Artemis, we will: 

• Demonstrate new technologies, capabilities, and business approaches needed for future exploration including Mars 
• Study the Moon to learn more about the origin and history Earth, the Moon, and our solar system 
• Establish American leadership and a strategic presence on the Moon while expanding our U.S. global economic impact 
• Broaden our commercial and international partnerships 
• Inspire a new generation and encourage careers in STEM

How Do We Get There?

NASA’s powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), set to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL, will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft nearly a quarter-million miles from Earth to lunar orbit. Astronauts will dock Orion at the Gateway and transfer to a human landing system for expeditions to the surface of the Moon. They will return to the orbital outpost to board Orion again before returning safely to Earth. 

When Will We Get There?

Starting in 2022, and throughout the decade, we will send a suite of science instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface through commercial lunar payload deliveries. 

Prior to a lunar surface landing, we will fly two missions around the Moon to test our deep space exploration systems. We’re working toward launching Artemis I, an uncrewed flight to test the SLS and Orion spacecraft together, followed by the Artemis II mission, the first SLS and Orion flight test with crew.

What Will We Do There?

While Mars remains our horizon goal, we have set our sights first on exploring the surface of the Moon with human and robotic explorers. We will send astronauts to new locations, starting with the lunar South Pole. At the Moon, we will: 

• Find and use water and other critical resources needed for long-term exploration
• Investigate the Moon’s mysteries and learn more about our home planet and the universe Learn how to live and operate on the surface of another celestial body where astronauts are just three days from home Prove the technologies we need before sending astronauts on missions to Mars, which can take up to three years roundtrip

Where Did The Name Artemis Come From?

Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. Now, she personifies our path to the Moon as the name of NASA's efforts to return astronauts and a new wave of science payloads and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. When they land, American astronauts will step foot where no human has ever been before: the Moon’s South Pole.

Biran Dunbar/NASA

NASA is loading both liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) into NASA SLS's core stage now. Slow fill on LOX will take about 15 minutes. Slow fill on LH2 will take about 70 minutes.

NASA commentary of tanking operations to load propellant into the SLS rocket started at 2:00 am IST Wednesday. Follow all coverage here. Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson has given the “go” to officially begin loading propellants into the Space Launch System rocket. Tanking begins with chilldown of the core stage liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen transfer lines.

NASA is currently streaming live views of the Artemis 1 Space Launch System fueling, a process that fills the 322-foot rocket with vital liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This propellant is needed to launch the rocket toward the moon. The launch countdown in the middle of a built-in hold at the 6-hour, 40-minute mark. Watch LIVE here

Images Credit: NASA

Tanking process begins with chilling down the LOX and LH2 lines for the core stage.  In a sequential fashion, LOX and LH2 will flow into the rocket’s core stage tank and be topped off and replenished as some of the cryogenic propellant boils off. The process involves slowly filling the core stage with propellant to thermally condition the tank until temperature and pressure are stable before beginning fast fill operations, which is when the tank is filled at a quicker pump speed. As the super cold liquid oxygen fills the core stage tank, some venting may be visible.

NASA Artemis I team has given the go for loading operations and has begun chilling down the LH2 and LO2 transfer lines.

Teams at NASA are preparing to launch the NASA Orion spacecraft to the Moon aboard the NASA SLS rocket. Watch coverage of the rocket fueling process for the Artemis I mission.

As NASA begins the countdown of Artemis I Moon launch, the event is progressing smoothly. All elements of the rocket and spacecraft are powered up. Overnight, teams are focusing on charging flight batteries, conduct final walkdowns at the launch pad, and check out communications with Orion.

NASA on Tuesday informed that when SLS and NASA Orion launch on the uncrewed Artemis I flight test to the Moon, it will be visible along the Space Coast and throughout parts of Florida for a brief minute or so.

The Artemis I mission management team has reviewed the status of preparations for launch and gave a “go” to proceed toward a Nov. 16 launch attempt. The team checked the additional analysis associated with caulk on Orion’s launch abort system that came loose during Hurricane Nicole. Engineers conducted the detailed analysis of several feet of delaminated caulk where the ogive on Orion’s launch abort system meets the crew module adapter. The analysis assessed the risk should it come loose during launch.

Overnight, in parallel with launch preparations, technicians focused on removing and replacing a component of an electrical connector on the hydrogen tail service mast umbilical ground-side plate. Engineers also saw some inconsistent data provided through the connector, despite replacing the cable to the connector earlier in the week. Engineers have redundant sources for the information provided through the connector and it is not an impediment to launch.

NASA's Artemis I managers convened Monday afternoon to review the status of countdown operations as well as two open technical items, and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch Wednesday, Nov 16.

Weather conditions remain 90% favourable for the Artemis I launch, NASA said in its update, citing the forecast from meteorologists with the US Space Force Space Launch Delta 45. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:04 a.m. EST or 11:34 am IST Wednesday, Nov. 16 with a two-hour launch window.

The mission management team will reconvene to review additional analysis from overnight operations in preparation for the launch. Track launch https://www.nasa.gov/live .

The day is finally here when the Space Launch System (SLS rocket) will liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) under Artemis 1 mission and kickstart the Artemis Program. According to NASA, the mega-rocket will launch during a two-hour launch window opening at 11:34 am IST as the world's most powerful rocket to ever reach orbit. Standing 322 feet tall, the SLS rocket is currently at the Launch Complex 39B of the KSC integrated with the Orion spacecraft. 

As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has previously answered, the Moon will prepare astronauts for deep space missions including those to Mars. According to Nelson, Moon will serve as a test bed to train the astronauts about survival in space so as to make humans capable of developing into a multi-planetary species. The Artemis Program is being considered the right step in that direction as it would see NASA and its international partners develop sustainable bases on the Moon.