NASA cancels the launch of Artemis I owing to a probable storm danger

NASA postponed its September 27th Artemis I launch as Tropical Storm Ian intensifies, perhaps growing into a major hurricane that would hit Florida next week. NASA has yet to determine whether to return the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) but says it will make a decision on Sunday.

The unmanned launch is a demonstration of NASA’s SLS rocket, which will propel the Orion capsule around the Moon, and is part of the agency’s overall objective of returning people to the lunar surface by 2025. While the first launch attempt failed to owe to engine problems, the second failed due to a massive fuel leak.

 

Storm Forecast (Image Source – Twitter)

 

NASA officials said on Friday that the Artemis I rocket is ready to launch after a successful test of its troublesome fuelling system. The Artemis I crew successfully filled the rocket with the super-chilled liquid hydrogen fuel required for the launch, with minimal “manageable” leakage. The Space Force also granted NASA an extension that enables the mega-rocket to remain on the launchpad without testing the batteries in its Flight Termination System, a safety device that kills the rocket if anything goes wrong during its flight.

Aside from the now-canceled September 27th launch date, NASA had penciled in October 2nd as a possible backup launch date in case things didn’t go as planned. However, if NASA chooses to bring back the rocket, the backup launch date is likely to be ruled out. The four-mile trek to the VAB takes many hours and may cause the launch to be postponed until November. Leaving the rocket outdoors, on the other hand, might expose it to hazardous weather conditions, with NASA officials stating that the rocket can only survive wind gusts of up to 85mph when on the launchpad.