NASA has finally set a new launch date for the oft-delayed first flight of its Space Launch System rocket. The formal date should be announced next week, a senior engineer at the agency said.

During a committee meeting of NASA’s Advisory Council, Tom Whitmeyer said the launch date would be “towards the end of next year.” This mission, dubbed Artemis I by NASA, is seen as the agency’s first step back toward the Moon. The uncrewed test flight, which will last between 26 and 42 days, will insert Orion into a lunar orbit before the deep space capsule returns to Earth.

Under development since 2011, the Space Launch System rocket has cost NASA nearly $20 billion and has been criticized both for its cost and slow pace of development. But largely because of unshaken Congressional support, NASA has continued its plodding development.