NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission could not launch in March : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3935x1911+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff1%2Ff4%2Ff7b4eb28482c93fc14944f208cd3%2Fgettyimages-2262125450.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3935x1911+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff1%2Ff4%2Ff7b4eb28482c93fc14944f208cd3%2Fgettyimages-2262125450.jpg" class="img" alt="A day after NASA said it was eyeing a potential March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the space agency now says new complications could derail all of the March launch dates. The rocket, seen here at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad on Friday, may need to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional tests." fetchpriority="high"/> A day after NASA mentioned it was eyeing a possible March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the house company now says new issues might derail the entire March launch dates. The rocket, seen right here on the Kennedy House Heart launch pad on Friday, could have to be rolled again to the Automobile Meeting Constructing for extra exams. Gregg Newton/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Gregg Newton/AFP by way of Getty Pictures Simply at some point after NASA mentioned it was eyeing a possible March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the house company mentioned Saturday that issues with the rocket might delay all launch makes an attempt in March from the Kennedy House Heart in Florida.

The Artemis II mission, which is ready to hold 4 astronauts on a 10-day journey across the moon, could be the primary time people return to the neighborhood of the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

In a weblog publish, NASA mentioned it's "taking steps to doubtlessly roll again the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Automobile Meeting Constructing," after technicians noticed an "interrupted circulate of helium" to the rocket system. NASA says its groups are "actively reviewing knowledge" and taking steps to "handle the problem as quickly as attainable whereas engineers decide the most effective path ahead."

NASA says a rollback from the pad to the close by Automobile Meeting Constructing would imply that the 5 potential launch dates in March could be off the desk. NASA has six launch alternatives in April.

NASA says it is unclear why helium circulate was interrupted. The house company says it is reviewing knowledge from the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022 by which groups needed to troubleshoot helium-related pressurization of the higher stage earlier than launch.

On Friday, following the completion of the second "moist costume rehearsal", NASA managers had been optimistic. "That is actually getting actual," mentioned Lori Glaze, appearing affiliate administrator of NASA's exploration programs growth mission directorate. "It is time to get severe and begin getting excited."

A check of the rocket, earlier this month, revealed a number of points. In the course of the fueling, NASA encountered issues like a liquid hydrogen leak. Swapping out some seals and different work appears to have mounted these points, in response to officers who say that the most recent countdown costume rehearsal went easily, regardless of glitches similar to a lack of floor communications within the Launch Management Heart that compelled staff to quickly use backups.