Orion crew capsule prepares to set off for the Moon

The most powerful rocket in human history is due to launch

With just under two hours to go, the Artemis launch crew continued pre-launch preparations including engine number 3 bleed liquid oxygen venting.

This was the schedule for the launch with all times shown in US Eastern time…

Monday, August 29 

12 a.m. – Coverage begins for the fueling of the Space Launch System Moon rocket on the Artemis I mission

6:30 a.m. – Artemis I launch coverage begins in English. Launch coverage continues through translunar injection and spacecraft separation, setting Orion on its path to the Moon. (Two-hour launch window opens at 8:33 a.m. EDT)

7:30 a.m. – Launch coverage begins in Spanish on NASA’s Spanish-language social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube) and will continue approximately 15 minutes after lift-off. Mission coverage updates will be posted on the NASA en español social media channels.

12 p.m. – Artemis I post-launch news conference (time subject to change)

This is Live coverage of the fueling of the Space Launch System Moon Rocket for the Artemis I Mission. Continuous coverage of rocket fuelling and the launch of NASA’s new Space Launch System rocket – Artemis – for the first time with an Orion crew capsule that will carry experiments around the moon and back.

The pre-launch preparations can be seen in real time at the NASA live stream website.