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NASA: Artemis I Launch Window Opens in Late February

NASA gives an update about Artemis I—an uncrewed lunar test flight of the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Monday, October 25, 2021 at 05:12 PM ET

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Artemis I is scheduled to orbit the moon and return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific. NASA

Key Takeaways:

NASA's uncrewed Artemis I lunar test flight, using the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, is targeting a launch window from February 12 to 27, 2022.
The mission will orbit the moon and return to Earth, providing crucial data for future crewed missions, including the goal to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface since 1972.
Excitement has grown following the recent stacking of the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building, marking a significant milestone for the program.

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The first launch of NASA’s new moonshot program, Artemis, is expected for mid- to late February.

Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.