On the 53rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar touchdown, NASA introduced on Wednesday that it is capturing for a late August launch of its big, new moon rocket.

NASA will try the greater than month-long lunar check flight with three mannequins, however no astronauts, as early as August 29. There are additionally two launch dates in early September, earlier than NASA must stand down for 2 weeks.

NASA’s Jim Free famous the check flight begins “our Artemis program to return to the moon.” The area company’s new lunar program is known as Artemis after Apollo‘s twin sister in Greek mythology.

The 30-story Area Launch System rocket and hooked up Orion capsule are presently within the hangar at Kennedy Area Middle, following repairs stemming from final month’s countdown check. Gasoline leaks and different technical hassle cropped up throughout NASA’s repeated launch rehearsals on the pad.

NASA officers assured reporters Wednesday that the issues have been resolved and that testing is nearly full. However they cautioned the launch dates might slip, relying on the unstable Florida climate and points that may come up earlier than the rocket is meant to return to the pad on August 18.

“We will watch out,” stated Free, head of exploration programs growth.

At 322 toes (98 meters), the rocket and Orion capsule are taller than the Statue of Liberty.

If Orion’s journey to the moon and again goes effectively, astronauts might climb aboard in 2023 for a lunar loop-around and truly land in 2025.

Astronauts final explored the moon in 1972. The primary of the 12 moonwalkers, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, stepped onto the dusty grey floor on July 20, 1969, whereas Michael Collins orbited the moon.

The 92-year-old Aldrin, the only survivor of the three, famous the anniversary in a tweet. He said, “Neil, Michael & I had been proud to characterize America as we took these big leaps for mankind. It was a second which united the world and America’s most interesting hour.”