NASA Sets Coverage for
ULA, Astrobotic Artemis Robotic Moon Launch
DEC 28, 2023 MEDIA ADVISORY M23-153
Ahead of launch as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated in the payload fairing, or
nose cone, of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket on Nov. 21, 2023, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA
As part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis program, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Astrobotic are targeting 2:18 a.m. EST Monday, Jan. 8, for
the first commercial robotic launch to the Moon’s surface. Carrying NASA science, liftoff of ULA’s Vulcan rocket and Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander will happen from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Live launch coverage will air on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA
app, and the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Thursday, Jan. 4. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including
social media. Follow events online at: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv.
Peregrine will land on the Moon on Friday, Feb. 23. The NASA payloads aboard the lander aim to help the agency develop capabilities needed to explore the Moon under Artemis and in advance
of human missions on the lunar surface.
Full coverage of this mission is as follows (all times Eastern):
Thursday, Jan. 4
11 a.m. – Science media briefing via WebEx with the following participants:
Video of the teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website:
https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv.
Media may ask questions via WebEx. For the dial-in information, please contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than 10 a.m. on Jan. 4, at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Friday, Jan. 5
3 p.m. – Lunar delivery readiness media teleconference with the following participants:
Audio of the teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website:
https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv.
Media may ask questions via phone. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than 1 p.m. on Jan. 5, at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Monday, Jan. 8
1:30 a.m. – NASA TV launch coverage begins
2:18 a.m. – Launch
NASA launch coverage
Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, or -7135. On launch day, the full
mission broadcast can be heard on -1220 and -1240, while the countdown net only can be heard on -7135 beginning approximately at 1:30 a.m. when the mission broadcast begins.
On launch day, a “tech feed” showing a static shot of the launch pad without NASA TV commentary will be carried on the NASA TV media channel.
NASA website launch coverage
Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, as the
countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage on the Artemis blog for
updates.
Attend launch virtually
Members of the public can register to
attend this launch virtually. As a virtual guest, you have access to curated resources, schedule changes, and mission-specific information delivered straight to your inbox. Following each activity, virtual guests will receive a commemorative stamp for their
virtual guest passport.
Watch, engage on social media
Let people know you’re following the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #Artermis. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts:
In May 2019, NASA awarded a task order for the scientific payload delivery to Astrobotic, which is on track to be one of the first of at least eight CLPS deliveries already planned.
Through Artemis, NASA is working with multiple CLPS vendors to send a regular cadence of deliveries to the Moon to perform science investigations, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon before NASA sends the first astronauts
to land near the lunar South Pole.
The deadline has passed for media accreditation for in-person coverage of this launch. The agency’s media
accreditation policy is available online. More information about media accreditation is available by emailing: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
For media inquiries relating to the launch provider, please contact ULA’s communications department by emailing: media@ulalaunch.com.
For media inquiries relating to the CLPS provider, Astrobotic, please contact Astrobotic’s communication department by emailing: contact@astrobotic.com.
X: @NASA,
@NASAKennedy,
@NASAArtemis,
@NASAMoon
Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, NASAArtemis
Instagram: @NASA,
@NASAKennedy,
@NASAArtemis
Learn more about NASA’s CLPS initiative at:
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan
a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
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