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EXPLAINER: NASA tests new moon rocket, 50 years after Apollo

A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. A cutaway of the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) A comparison of the Saturn V and the new Moon rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS. This combination of photos shows the Saturn V rocket with Apollo 12's spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left. At right is NASA's new moon rocket for the Artemis program with the Orion spacecraft on top at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for the first Artemis mission is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (AP Photo) FILE - The NASA Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen on pad 39B during sunset at the Kennedy Space Center, Monday, June 27, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Orion’s flight is planned to last six weeks from its Florida liftoff to Pacific splashdown, twice as long as astronaut trips. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) FILE - A section of the Artemis rocket with the Orion space capsule is seen inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Orion capsule is named after the constellation, among the night sky’s brightest. At 11 feet (3 meters) tall, it’s roomier than Apollo's capsule, seating four astronauts instead of three. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) FILE - The moon sets in front of the NASA Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard on pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. With liftoff planned for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, the 322-foot rocket will attempt to send an empty crew capsule into a far-flung lunar orbit. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) This combination of photos shows the Saturn V Rocket with the Apollo 12 spacecraft aboard on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in 1969, left, and the Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 18, 2022. Liftoff for Artemis is set for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Years late and billions over budget, NASA’s new moon rocket makes its debut in a high-stakes test flight before astronauts get on top. (AP Photo) NASA administrator Bill Nelson takes part in an interview before the scheduled launch of the Artemis 1 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for Monday morning Aug 29. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA administrator Bill Nelson takes part in an interview before the scheduled launch of the Artemis 1 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for Monday morning Aug 29. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA administrator Bill Nelson takes part in an interview before the scheduled launch of the Artemis 1 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for Monday morning Aug 29. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA administrator Bill Nelson takes part in an interview before the scheduled launch of the Artemis 1 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for Monday morning Aug 29. (AP Photo/John Raoux)