NASA’s next-generation Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is still on the ground.
It’s secured inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to keep it safe from Hurricane Ian, which at this moment is battering the state with strong winds and torrential rain.
The SLS rocket was expected to launch at the beginning of August. It is a 98-meter tall rocket. But there was a technical glitch with one of the core stage’s engines forced an abort about 70 minutes before lift-off.
NASA attempted to restart the process in September after the engine problem was fixed. But a liquid hydrogen leakEngineers were again forced to stop the launch attempt.
NASA chose to resolve the issues with the rocket on the launchpad. They didn’t want to transport it four miles to the VAB unless they were absolutely necessary.
But then, there was Hurricane IanThat is, it makes that removal It is really necessary. So on Monday night out came NASA’s crawler vehicle to transport the SLS rocket back to the VAB.
“As part of NASA’s hurricane preparedness protocol, a ‘ride out’ team will remain in a safe location at Kennedy throughout the storm to monitor center-wide conditions,” NASA In a Wednesday post, the company stated. “After the storm passes, they will conduct an assessment of facilities, property, and equipment. Once it is safe for additional employees to return to Kennedy, engineers will extend platforms to establish access to the rocket and spacecraft.”
It added: “Managers will review options on the extent of work that will be conducted in the VAB before returning to the launch pad or identifying the next opportunity for launch. Technicians will swap out batteries on the rocket’s flight termination system and retest the system prior to the next launch attempt.”
NASA had previously announced Sunday, October 2, as a potential launch date. However, Hurricane Ian has made it almost impossible to schedule any activity.
Artemis I will launch an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to the moon. The mission will fly by the moon for six weeks before it returns to Earth.
A successful mission will open the door to a crewed Artemis II flight following the same route. Artemis III could be completed as soon as 2025 and will attempt to place the first woman and the first person of color on the moon’s surface.
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