After two failed attempts to launch its new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the moon, NASA has confirmed a new date for a third test to get the long-awaited Artemis I mission underway.
After two failed attempts to launch its mega lunar rocket, NASA is now planning a third attempt for its inaugural Artemis mission. As a reminder, the first launch at the end of August was canceled due to a problem with engine number three. The second attempt at the beginning of September also failed due toa liquid hydrogen leak that appeared while the team was loading the rocket’s core stage.
The agency initially considered attempting the launch as early as September 23, but ultimately opted for a later date after ” careful consideration of multiple logistical topics “. From now on, NASA aims for liftoff on September 27with a fallback date ” potential » scheduled for October 2 if things don’t go as planned.
NASA is doing everything not to fail a third time
After two failed launches, NASA is doing everything it can to make sure everything goes well when it tries again at the end of the month. The Artemis 1 team has already finished working on the hydrogen leakwhich involved replacing the seals around the system of ” quick disconnect which helps channel the freezing liquid hydrogen into the rocket.
Engineers have scheduled a test on September 21 to see if the quick-disconnect system withstands the cryogenic conditions required for launch. The September 27 launch attempt will rely on a 70-minute launch window that opens at 5:37 p.m.. If NASA is successful, the Orion capsule would return to Earth about six weeks later on November 5. In the event of another failure, NASA will instead aim for October 2, with a 109-minute launch window that will open at 8:52 p.m. and the spacecraft’s return to Earth on November 11.
Before hoping to be able to launch his rocket, NASA must first obtain approval from the US Space Force. The agency has filed a request to expand the current testing requirement with the Eastern Range, a branch of the Space Force that oversees rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Station. Launch clearances are issued with time restrictions to ensure public safety, and NASA’s initial clearance to launch the SLS has expired.
