No, seriously, NASA’s Space Launch System is ready to take flight

The thing is actually happening. The Space Launch System rocket is going to be used by NASA to send a spaceship to the moon.

The final pre-launch preparations for the Artemis I mission are going so well that NASA plans to launch the rocket at 9 pm on August 16. The schedule was announced two days ago.

The launch date for the rocket has been moved up following the completion of a test. All major pre-launch activities have been completed and this was the last major test of the launch system. The Artemis I launch is scheduled to take place on August 29, September 2 and September 5.

There is a single component of the rocket. In the event of a problem during liftoff, ground-based controllers can send a signal to the flight terminated system to destroy the rocket before it flies off course.

The power supply for this system is only rated for three weeks. The limit is determined by the US Space Force. One of the proposed launch dates, September 5, fell outside of the prescribed limit.

NASA received an extension from the Space Launch Delta 45 on the validation of the flight terminated system from 20 to 25 days before it needs to be retested. NASA said that the waivers will be valid during the Artemis I launches. If the mission fails to launch on one of the three attempts due to weather, a technical issue, or other reasons, the rocket will need to be returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Each of the three upcoming launch opportunities would allow for a "long-class" mission, which will be uncrewed and fly into lunar orbit for several weeks before returning to Earth. The missions ranged from 39 to 42 days.

NASA's ambitions for a deep space human exploration program are represented by the Artemis I mission. The third launch of the rocket will enable a human landing on the Moon in the mid-2020s.

The SLS rocket program has been criticized for its lengthy delays and high cost. With a successful launch in a few weeks, the space agency will be able to put at least one of the criticisms to rest.