It’s happening –
The rocket may launch in two weeks.
Eric Berger –
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NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Reflecting in the Turning Basin at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, for the fourth wet dress rehearsal on June 6, 2022.
Trevor Malman
It does happen. NASA is finally ready to launch its massive Space Launch System rocket, barring disaster, otherwise Orion The spaceship will fly to the moon and back.
Space Agency for this Artemis 1 mission Final pre-launch preparations are well underway, in fact, NASA now plans to push the rocket toward launch as early as Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm ET (Wednesday 01:00 UTC) using the 39B. This is two days ahead of the previously announced launch schedule.
The launch date of this earlier rocket is on the weekend After completing the flight termination system test. This was the last major test of the launch system and spacecraft before launch, marking the completion of all major pre-launch activities. NASA continues to set three dates to attempt an Artemis 1 launch: August 29, September 2, and September 5.
The flight termination system is a separate component of the rocket. If something goes wrong during takeoff, ground controllers can send a signal to the flight termination system to destroy the rocket before it veers off course and threatens populated areas.
Because this termination system is separate from the rocket, it has A self-contained power supply is rated for only about three weeks. The limit was established by the U.S. Space Force, which operates the Eastern Range, including the Kennedy Space Center. The problem NASA faces is that one of its proposed launch dates, Sept. 5, is outside the stated limit.
However, NASA says it has received Delta 45’s extension on flight termination system validation from 20 to 25 days before retesting is required. NASA said the waiver will be in effect for the duration of the Artemis I launch attempt. However, if the mission fails to launch in one of these three attempts due to weather, technical issues or other scrubbing reasons, the rocket will need to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for work on the flight termination system.
Each of the three upcoming launch opportunities will allow “Long-Term – The Orion spacecraft’s ‘class’ mission, which will be unloaded and flown into lunar orbit for several weeks before returning to Earth and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Missions range in length from 39 to 42 days. The Artemis I mission represents NASA and its commitment to A major step forward in the ambitious human exploration program in deep space. The next launch of the rocket will carry four astronauts around the moon, with a third launch planned for a human landing in the mid-2020s.
The SLS rocket program is often criticized for its extensive delays and price tag in excess of $20 billion. However, after a successful launch in a few weeks, the space agency will be able to address at least one of these criticisms by demonstrating that the large rocket works as intended.
