The storm is anticipated to intensify into a hurricane over the next few days and may proceed northward into Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located and from which the rocket is scheduled to lift off for the Artemis Moon Mission.
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| The Artemis 3 crew will set foot on the Moon at the earliest possible date, 2025. Source : Online |
Washington: The historic NASA unmanned mission to the Moon is experiencing new challenges.
A fresh launch attempt for the Artemis 1 mission, slated for Tuesday, is now in jeopardy due to a storm that is forming in the Caribbean after two previous attempts were delayed by technical issues some weeks ago.
The storm is now south of the Dominican Republic and has not yet been given a name.
However, it is anticipated to intensify into a hurricane over the next few days and proceed northward into Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located and from which the rocket is scheduled to launch.
According to NASA's exploration ground systems manager Mike Bolger, "our plan A is to stay on course and launch on September 27." "However, we recognised that we also need to be particularly attentive and considering a plan B."
In order to do that, the massive Space Launch System rocket would need to be wheeled back to the VAB, or Vehicle Assembly Building.
Bolger stated that a decision should be reached by early afternoon on Saturday. "If we were to go down to Plan B, we need a couple days to pivot from our current tanking test or launch configuration to execute rollback and go back into the protection of the VAB," he added.
The orange and white SLS rocket can endure wind gusts up to 137 kilometres per hour on the launch pad. However, the present launch window, which lasts through October 4, will be missed if it needs to be shielded.
From October 17 through October 31, there will be one possible launch every day, with the exception of October 24-26 and 28.
After years of setbacks and cost overruns, the US space agency will feel a great deal of relief if the Artemis 1 mission is a success. However, NASA would suffer a setback after two prior launch attempts were aborted due to technical issues with the rocket, including a fuel leak.
The dates of the launches are contingent upon NASA gaining a special dispensation to avoid having to retest batteries on an emergency flight system that is meant to destroy the rocket if it veers beyond of its intended range and into a populated region.
The launch window will open on Tuesday at 11:37 local time and remain for 70 minutes.
The mission will last 39 days if the rocket launches that day, ending on November 5 with a landing in the Pacific Ocean.
In order to test the SLS and the unmanned Orion capsule that sits atop, the Artemis 1 space mission seeks to pave the way for future lunar missions with humans on board.
In place of the astronauts on the flight, mannequins with sensors will measure radiation, vibration, and acceleration.
In the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, astronauts will orbit the Moon rather than touch down there.
The earliest that the Artemis 3 crew will set foot on the Moon is 2025.
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