Space agency NASA was aiming to launch Artemis 1 from Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s Atlantic coast on Tuesday, September 27. All plans were focused on this date until last Friday, but NASA officials once again delayed the mission due to a storm in the Caribbean called Tropical Depression 9.
Weather conditions are the only obstacle to Artemis 1 for now.
According to tropical storm patterns formed in the Caribbean, Florida will face a strong hurricane in the middle of next week. According to the data collected, the probability of the weather being suitable for launch on September 27 was calculated as only 20 percent. So it was not surprising that NASA canceled the launch again.
Mars is trash
Launch may not be in October
After NASA’s decision to cancel the launch window on September 27, eyes were turned to October 2. However, it is stated that the launch may not take place on this date. Because the SLS rocket and Orion capsule, which will be used in the Artemis 1 mission, are being transported to the hangar to protect them from the hurricane. If Artemis 1 is not held at the launch site and withdraws to the hangar, it may not be possible to meet the backup launch date of October 2nd. If the launch does not take place on October 2, it will have to wait until the second half of November for the next launch attempt.
Mission most critical to the goal of sending humans to the moon
The multi-billion-dollar Artemis mission consists of three parts: Artemis 1, Artemis 2 and Artemis 3. The Artemis 1 mission will carry the Orion capsule with the SLS launch system, the giant and most powerful rocket. The aim of the mission, which will be carried out unmanned, is to go to the orbit of the Moon and return to the Earth again. Therefore, it can be described as a test flight, which is of great importance.
Data from Artemis 1 will be used in the manned Artemis 2 mission to take place in 2024. In this mission, astronauts will be sent into lunar orbit but returned to Earth without being landed on the Moon. Artemis 3 will launch in 2025 or 2026, and the astronauts will land on the Moon’s south pole.
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