Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Friday, August 26th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 8:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:59. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

The first day of the Artemis I launch window is Monday morning. NASA will have three attempts to launch between August 29th and September 5th. There is also a daily launch window of up to two hours. If a launch is scrubbed one day, it will be at least two days before they can try again. Artemis I is an uncrewed mission, that will enter a large orbit of the Moon, and go around it one half or one and a half times before returning to the Earth. Major investigations that will take place in the Orion capsule are how well it would protect the astronauts from the Sun’s radiation and cosmic rays outside the Earth’s protective magnetosphere. The first launch window opens up at 8:33 am Eastern Daylight Time, August 29, 2022.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Artist’s rendering of the Artemis launch from Launch Pad 39B as it would be seen from offshore. Click on the image to enlarge it. Credit NASA.

Major mission milestones. Click on the image to enlarge it. Credit: NASA