NASA’s Artemis 1 moon-mission to lift off today

NASA says it has made a complete preparation to launch the next lunar mission, named Artemis 1, which will be launched in the two-hour launch window opening at 12:33 pm (GMT) on Monday with NASA predicting weather to remain 70% favorable.

According to NASA, the Artemis 1 mission is set to begin the new expedition of human exploration on the Moon with its most powerful unmanned rocket to circle the moon in an orbit that will get it deep into space before it turns to Earth after more than 42 days.

The main objective of NASA’s Artemis Missions is to send the first woman and first person of colour to the Moon as early as 2025.

NASA says that they’re going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration, further adding, “We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon”.

Watch Artemis 1 moon-mission launch live here:

Credit: NASA

Stating that the reason behind NASA stopping the manned moon missions is due to the need for huge monetary expenditure, NASA had stopped manned missions to the Moon after the completion of Apollo 17’s 12-day mission between 7 and 19 December, 1972.

Also Read: Can We go for a Vacation on The Moon Anytime Soon?

According to NASA, Artemis 2, will bring a human crew on a lunar flyby, entering the moon’s orbit and returning in eight to ten days. Currently slated for launch in 2024, the mission will be the first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft around the Moon. And, the agency is just planning for Artemis III and the subsequent missions.

It’s reported that hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world, between 100,000 and 200,000, are expected to witness the launch of the ‘one of life-time event’, the Artemis 1 mission-launch.