New York, Aug 23 : The US space agency has granted a approval for August 29 to launch the first flight uncrewed of Artemis I on its mission to the Moon and back to Earth.The “Flight Readiness Assessment” for NASA’s Artemis I mission has concluded and teams are moving towards the launch window of two hours that will begin at 8:33 a.m.EDT (6 p.m.India time) on August 29 at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B in Florida, NASA said in a statement late Monday.
The very first in an ongoing sequence of ever-more complex missions Artemis I will provide an essential foundation for human space exploration and demonstrate our determination and ability to extend human presence on the Moon and beyond.
“The main purpose of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems prior crewed missions , by conducting the spacecraft in deep space and testing the Orion heat shield, and regaining the crew module following descent, reentry, as well as splashdown.” NASA said.
NASA had previously tentatively chosen three dates for launch August 29, September 2 and September 5 for the mission that was not scheduled to be launched.
The US space agency has identified 13 landing zones close to the south pole of the moon in preparation to launch astronauts back to the Moon under the Artemis program in 2024.
Each region is home to multiple potential landing spots to be used for Artemis III, which will be the first of the Artemis missions that will bring crews on the moon’s surface, and will include the first female astronaut to step foot on the surface of the Moon.
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