UPDATE: Today’s Artemis 1 launch has been scrubbed. While a new launch date hasn’t yet been set, the NASA live stream page briefly offered a new date for the stream of 2 September, at 18:00 South African Standard Time.
The launch of #Artemis I is no longer happening today as teams work through an issue with an engine bleed. Teams will continue to gather data, and we will keep you posted on the timing of the next launch attempt. https://t.co/tQ0lp6Ruhv pic.twitter.com/u6Uiim2mom
— NASA (@NASA) August 29, 2022
NASA’s Artemis 1 launch has finally arrived. From 14:33 today, South African time, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will send the Orion capsule off on a 42-day trip around the moon. If, that is, everything goes according to plan.
That doesn’t leave a massive amount of time for you to secure your set. If you’re at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B, you’ll be treated to one of the loudest noises you can hear without needing to be tested for radiation poisoning. If you’re watching from home or work, as we will be, you’ll just have to check out the live stream.
Which rocket? The Artemis 1
There are two options when it comes to checking out the live stream. Artemis 1’s liftoff — or massive explosion — will be broadcast from a range of sources. NASA’s got an official feed set up, set to go live from 12:30 SAST, and will continue through the two-hour launch window. That’s the video embedded above.
If you prefer your space a little more raw, there’s a currently-live camera trained on the Artemis 1 rocket. It’s not showing anything exciting right now, but you can see the rocket in real time. If you’d rather not wait for a stream to start, that’s the place to be.
The Artemis 1 launch window opens today from 08:33 EDT and closes again at 10:33 EDT. In South Africa, that’s between 14:33 and 16:33 this afternoon. Liftoff will take place at any time between those two temporal points. If you’re just keen on seeing the rocket take off, you can skip the buildup from 12:30 today. It’ll mostly involve a few national anthems, appearances by Jack Black, Chris Evans, and Keke Palmer, and people talking about the massive explosion we’re all keen on watching live.