NASA is set to launch an uncrewed spacecraft rocket to the Moon’s orbit at the end of September if the fuel test is successful.
NASA plans to launch the Artemis 1 mission on either September 23 or 27, where the Space Launch System (SLS) super rocket will carry the Orion spacecraft on an uncrewed flight to the Moon’s orbit. However, on the evening of September 12, NASA announced that September 23 is no longer feasible. They are now targeting a launch on September 27, with October 2 as a backup date.
Artemis 1 stack at launch pad 39B. (Photo: NASA)
Initially, NASA aimed to launch the mission on August 29 but had to postpone due to a temperature reading error in one of the four RS-25 engines on the SLS’s main stage. The team quickly identified the issue with the faulty sensor and prepared to attempt another launch of the SLS and Orion stack on September 3. However, a liquid hydrogen leak forced NASA to delay the launch again.
The leak occurred in the “quick disconnect” fitting that connects the SLS main stage to the fueling line from the rocket’s mobile launch tower. Engineers working on Artemis 1 replaced two seals around this component last week and completed the necessary repairs over the weekend.
Currently, NASA is preparing for a cryogenic propellant fueling test of the SLS to determine if the leak has been resolved. They initially planned to conduct the test on September 17, but it has now been pushed back to September 21. According to NASA, the new launch date will provide more time to prepare for the spacecraft’s launch while allowing managers to ensure the team has enough time to rest and replenish the cryogenic fuel.
The Artemis 1 stack remains on launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, but it may need to be moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The U.S. Space Force, which oversees rocket launches, has issued a 25-day license for the Flight Termination System (FTS), and that timeframe is nearing its end.
NASA has requested an extension for the FTS license, which is designed to destroy the rocket if it veers off course. If the request is denied, the vehicle will have to return to the VAB, the only place where necessary tests can be conducted to obtain re-licensing. The next two launch days for Artemis 1 are very close to SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission, which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station from launch pad 39A at KSC on October 3.
