The fourth time could be a charm. Artemis 1 is counting down to launch on Wednesday at 1:04 a.m. There is a two-hour launch in place. If the rocket does not launch within that time frame, who knows when it will? The missile was initially set to launch in August.
LIVE NOW: Teams are preparing to launch the @NASA_Orion spacecraft to the Moon aboard the @NASA_SLS rocket. Watch coverage of the rocket fueling process for the #Artemis I mission.
Follow @NASAGroundSys for updates. https://t.co/FO7d5p9xeH
— NASA (@NASA) November 15, 2022
According to Nasa, glitches with fueling were the reason for postponing the launch. A month later, NASA rolled Artemis 1 back onto the launch pad. The second attempt was a bust due to concerns about Hurricane Ian. Scientists then waited until the first week of November to launch the rocket. November 4th came, and NASA had hoped to launch the rocket again, but Hurricane Nicole’s high winds made it not a good idea to launch. Hurricane Nicole has now passed. Scientists say some minor damage was done to the rocket. The Artemis mission manager cites a thin strip of RTV that is used to help prevent undesirable airflow and heating during the flight was loose after the hurricane. There are concerns it could shake loose during liftoff. However, scientists say preparation for the launch would continue after analyzing the risk.
If the $4.1 billion rocket launches on Wednesday, it will last 26 days before the Orion capsule reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. This mission is significant because it will test the Space Launch System, which is reported to be the most powerful rocket in the world. Also on board the rocket is a mannequin crew designed to test multiple components to make sure deep space travel at longer periods is safer for humans. If this mission is successful, Artemis 2 will launch in 2024, putting humans back on the moon for the first time since 1972.
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