NASA postpones Artemis I mission - again - to mid-November
According to NASA, it aims to reschedule the launching of Artemis I between November 12 and November 27.
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NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA)
The launch of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket Artemis I has been postponed till November after its initial launch possibility in October, as it was evading any potential destruction from Hurricane Ian.
On Friday, NASA announced that it aims to reschedule the launching of Artemis I between November 12 and November 27.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, NASA decided to return the aircraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to protect it from the storm, successfully securing the rocket on Tuesday after taking up an hour to return it to the building.
“There was no damage to Artemis flight hardware,” said NASA, alleging that its facilities suffered only "minor water intrusion."
In April, NASA delayed the rocket's launch after a hydrogen leak was detected from the tail service mast, according to a NASA official blog. After the leak was detected, engineers stopped loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (LOX) on the core stage.
In September, again, NASA postponed the launching of the rocket and the unscrewed capsule Orion after a hydrogen leak occurred during fueling that they were unable to repair in time. Mission controllers reportedly exerted strained efforts to fix the leak several times but were unsuccessful.
One testing after another showed that the leak was still present, but at a more "manageable" rate. More inspections are underway, announced NASA.
