An incoming hurricane forces NASA’s big moon mission back off the launch pad.
Hurricane Ian, which swept down Florida for an estimated landfall on Thursday, Sept. NASA decides to take it back Artemis 1 task Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket to ward off launch pad, agency said via a blog post (opens in new tab) Monday (26 September).
Artemis 1 was supposed to take off. moon October 2, although postponed several times; Ian is already a snake mandatory and delayed From a planned initiative on Tuesday, September 27. A new launch date has not been set yet.
The agency will start moving the massive SLS rocket and the uncrewed rocket. Orion spacecraft Monday at 11 PM EDT (0400 GMT Tuesday, September 27). A live stream of the 8 to 10 hour journey is here on Space.com, NASA Television (opens in new tab), As with NASA’s website, app, and social media.
In pictures: NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket looks gorgeous in these amazing photos
Artemis 1 will then weather the storm at NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building; winds expected to reach at least 76 miles (opens in new tab) (122 km/h), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). After the storm, NASA said a shift is likely, at least mid-October.
“The decision gives employees time to meet the needs of their families and maintain the integrated rocket and spacecraft system,” NASA said in its blog post. “The time of the first move is also based on the best predicted conditions for rollback to meet the weather criteria for the move.”
NASA administrators decided using data from NOAA, USA space force (which manages the launch range around the agency Kennedy Space Center) and the National Hurricane Center.
In the photos: NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket viewed from space
Artemis I Update: NASA will return the Artemis I Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Monday, September. 26. The first move is targeted for 23:00 EDT. MORE: https://t.co/817ahBkTqy pic.twitter.com/3xJ0O5pnPNSeptember 26, 2022
This will be Artemis 1’s third stay at the VAB. The mission was there for the initial integration, then landed on June 6 for the first refueling test. numerous follow-ups problems with testing big pile on 20 june back on July 2 for further integration to VAB and then back on the launch pad August 16th and 17th, where several launch dates have passed due to weather or technical issues (the agency also successfully completed another fuel test last week.)
NASA administrators said the system is rated for two returns to VAB, so it looks like it will need to be launched after the stack returns to the launch pad after this hurricane decision. Artemis 1’s mission calls for Orion to orbit the moon and return to a nearly 40-day mission as a wobbly cruise ahead of the crew. Artemis 2 Not earlier than 2024.
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