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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Kent

Artemis: NASA launch will be visible in Irish skies if you look at the right time in the right place

The Artemis NASA launch will be visible over Irish skies on Saturday night - but only if you look in the right place at the right time.

The original blast off on Aug. 29 was postponed when launch controllers were unable to chill down the four RS-25 engines, with one engine showing higher temperatures than the other engines.

But the space agency has confirmed plans for the re-launch this weekend.

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NASA is targeting 2:17 p.m. EDT (6.17 GMT) on Saturday, Sept. 3, for the launch of Artemis i, an uncrewed mission around the Moon that will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.

And there's even better news for Irish sky-gazers, as you'll be able to see it over Irish skies.

However, there are a couple of conditions, as Astronomy Ireland explain: "If Artemis launches at 7:17pm on Saturday it should be visible in Irish skies as it rushes away from the Earth. Look low in the West at 8:15pm below the star Arcturus. Thereafter it slowly moves to the left and fades as it rushes away from us."

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B (Getty Images)

Launch coverage will stream on the NASA website, as well as Facebook, Twitch, NASA YouTube, and in 4k on NASA’s UHD channel.

The goals of Artemis include: sending people to the moon, establishing a lunar base in the southern-polar region, a moon-orbiting space-station called the Lunar Gateway, and to prepare for a mission to Mars.

The next parts of the programme are already underway.

Artemis 2 is scheduled to bring four people to orbit the Moon in 2024, and Artemis 3 is planning to land the first woman and person of colour on the Moon in 2025.

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