The Artemis I rocket It is set to launch early Wednesday morning as the latest attempt to send an unmanned capsule close to the Moon after a series of delays. weather and mechanical issues.
NASA pushed back Monday’s scheduled flight after Hurricane Nicole made landfall about 85 miles south of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The rocket, which remained on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center during the storm, suffered “minor” damage that was easy to repair, Jim Free, associate administrator for NASA’s Intelligence Systems Development Mission Directorate, said in a statement. Press conference friday
November, As preparations for the Artemis mission continue at Kennedy Space Center, the moon rises above the Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft at launch pad 39B. 14, 2022, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images
The launch is the first step in an ambitious plan to establish a long-term presence on the Moon for scientific discovery and economic development. According to NASA, the Artemis expedition could eventually lead to the first crewed space trip to Mars.
The space capsule will travel for about 25 days before splashing into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego — coming as close as 60 miles to the moon — and then soaring 40,000 miles above the moon as it orbits the moon’s dark side. December 11.
If Artemis is declared ready, a two-hour window will open at 1:04 a.m. ET. Backup windows are Saturdays in November if needed. November 19 and Friday 25. NASA will broadcast the release NASA TV🇧🇷
The mission suffered a number of setbacks original release date Vice President Kamala Harris was expected to be among the estimated 100,000 spectators.
NASA canceled the first flight scheduled for August. 29 after a faulty sensor prevented one of the rocket’s engines from cooling to the proper temperature before ignition.
Along with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, a Space Launch System rocket sits on pad 39B as final preparations are made for the Artemis I mission at Kennedy Space Center. 14, 2022, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Days later, in September, a second launch attempt. Site 3 was cleaned up after the space agency identified a liquid hydrogen leak.
A third launch attempt is planned for September. 27, was faced with postponement due to Hurricane Ian🇧🇷 The rocket was removed from the launch pad to protect Ian as it wreaked havoc on its way north from Florida to the Carolinas.
In total, the Artemis expedition will include four missions, each of which will cost approximately $4.1 billion. In total, the project will cost $93 billion by 2025 audit From the NASA Office of the Inspector General.
If Artemis I is successful, Artemis II will carry four astronauts to the Moon in 2024. After that, Artemis III will land on the moon with a manned spacecraft. Eventually, Artemis IV will fly to a space station near the Moon.
During the Artemis missions, NASA plans to eventually send the first female astronaut and the first astronaut of color to the Moon.
NASA hopes that the Artemis expedition will enable a crewed trip to Mars in the coming years.
