Artemis I Rollout for Launch

Artemis I Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson stands at her console in Firing Room 1 inside the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 4, 2022, as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission roll out to Launch Pad 39B. The primary goal of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems before crewed missions by launching Orion atop the SLS rocket, operating the spacecraft in a deep space environment, testing Orion’s heat shield, and recovering the crew module after reentry, descent, and splashdown. During the flight, Orion will launch atop the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any human-rated spacecraft has ever flown, paving the way for human deep space exploration and demonstrating our commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond.