The Launch of Artemis I

The Space Launch System launched an uncrewed Orion capsule to circle the Moon on November 16 at 1:47 a.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission is expected to take six weeks and around 1.3 million miles. During the second and fourth weeks, Orion is predicted to enter a retrograde orbit about 44,000 miles above the Moon’s surface. Two weeks later, the rocket will have completed one and a half rotations and return to Earth, crashing into the Pacific Ocean.

In light of this new generation of space exploration, NASA has launched an educational program that follows the progression of the Artemis I mission ­­­­with eight weekly themes and ready-to-use resources called the Artemis I STEM Learning Pathway. This program has different STEM challenges that students can participate in that put their coding, designing, building, and engineering skills to the test. There are also DIY projects, hands-on activities, and experiments for kids and families to enjoy.

Artemis I is the first step in NASA’s plan to return to the Moon and begin human exploration of Mars. The organization aims to launch its first crew in the SLS and Orion in 2024 with the hope of flying a crew to the moon and returning to Earth without landing. In the year following, they plan to initiate Artemis III, consisting of the first crewed landing on the Moon using a SpaceX Starship system as a lunar lander. Within this mission, NASA hopes to land the first woman and person of color on the Moon.