Orion Spacecraft Joins Artemis I Moon Rocket at Kennedy
The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis I mission, fully assembled with its launch abort system, is lifted above the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. (Photo: Frank Michaux/NASA)

You can participate in a live ringside experience for NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission this week as it prepares to launch into space.

No early than Monday (Aug.29), "Artemis Ascending" will use 360-degree virtual reality to give participants the impression that they are standing close to the Artemis 1 mission as it lifts off. You will be able to watch online as NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket launches the Orion spacecraft on a mission to the moon. Liftoff is set for 8:33 a.m. EDT (1233 GMT).

By using Oculus Quest goggles or the Space Explorers Facebook page, Felix&Paul Studios hopes to broadcast the launch to viewers. The event will begin at 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 GMT) and run through the final countdown and launch. There are 200 domes and planetariums across the world where you can view it as well.

If you want to watch the launch without using virtual reality, NASA TV will be broadcasting the Artemis 1 launch live on Space.com beginning at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).

The areas where you may watch the historic moon expedition are listed below, and the broadcast will be hosted by veteran NASA astronauts Karen Nyberg and Doug Hurley on Meta Quest.

  • Venues in Horizon Worlds via Meta Quest Headsets

  • Facebook 360 on the Space Explorers Facebook page

  • Live and replay on Orange "Immersive Now" and LG Uplus' U+DIVE mobile applications

  • 200+ domes and planetariums around the world live and/or on-demand

The uncrewed Artemis I mission is scheduled to launch from Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center on Aug, 29 between 8:33 am ET and 10:33 am ET.

The Artemis program, which seeks to send people back to the moon and eventually put them on Mars, is being started with this trip even though there isn't a human crew on board.

The weather is favorable for taking off. According to the U.S. Space Force forecast issued at 6:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, the likelihood of favorable weather for the start of the Monday launch window has increased to 80%. However, when the likelihood of scattered showers and storms grows toward the conclusion of the launch period, the chances drop to 60%.