NASA’s Moon-Bound Rocket Is Now Scheduled To Launch on Friday
A potential start to NASA’s long-awaited Artemis I mission.
NASA has ambitious plans for this weekend: to finally launch its 322-foot (98 m) tall, uncrewed Orion spacecraft to the moon. The space agency momentarily considering taking off this Friday, September 2, before ultimately determining that the day posed the risk of bad weather.
The rocket was originally supposed to embark on its Artemis I mission on Monday, August 29, but was called off due to issues cooling one of the four main engines that power the spacecraft’s propeller. Scientists weren’t able to fix the issue on-site and the engine was too hot for the necessary cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to flow through it.
Scientists working on the mission met the following day to discuss data regarding the flight test, and now, NASA has revealed its new plan for a launch this Saturday, September 3, targeting a two-hour window beginning at 2:17 p.m. ET.
Over the next few days, the space agency’s team will “modify and practice propellant loading procedures,” mirroring a green run previously performed at its Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
“The updated procedures would perform the chilldown test of the engines, also called the kick start bleed test, about 30 to 45 minutes earlier in the countdown during the liquid hydrogen fast fill liquid phase for the core stage,” NASA said in its announcement.
NASA’s meteorologists noted that they predict favorable weather conditions for Saturday, with just sporadic rain showers during the launch window.
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