NASA is going forward to the Moon with the launch of the first integrated test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This uncrewed flight test around the Moon will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.
NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley invites media to interview subject matter experts Jeremy Vander Kam, Nettie Roozeboom, and Stephen Walker to talk about the center’s contributions to this historic agency milestone which dates back to 2006 when development and testing of the Orion heat shield began.
The SLS rocket is targeted to launch during a two-hour window starting at 10:04 p.m. PST Tuesday, Nov. 15, from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy. Following Hurricane Nicole, teams have conducted thorough assessments of the rocket, spacecraft, and associated ground systems and confirmed there were no significant impacts from the severe weather. The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 4 and rode out the storm there. A livestream of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad currently is available on the NASA Kennedy YouTube channel. Live coverage of events will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.
Media requesting a virtual interview with one of the above subject matter experts from Ames Research Center should email the Ames Office of Communications at arc-dl-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov or call the newsroom at 650-604-4789.
A media resource reel is available upon request.
For countdown coverage on NASA’s Artemis blog and launch updates, visit:
For more information about the Artemis I mission, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i
Vander Kam has overseen the full lifecycle of the Orion TPS design, including the recovery operations and TPS inspections of the first Exploration Flight Test – something he will repeat for Artemis I.
Roozeboom helped test the SLS, NASA’s powerful new rocket, in wind tunnels at Ames.
Walker is part of the BioSentinel team, which will run the first long-duration biology experiment to take place beyond low-Earth orbit. BioSentinel is a CubeSat, or small satellite that will ride to space on the Space Launch System rocket and be deployed after the Orion spacecraft is flying on its own toward the Moon.
-end-
Hillary Smith
Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley
650-604-4789
hillary.smith@nasa.gov