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The ‘Space Launch System’ rocket and Orion spacecraft will not be rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for testing “no early than March 2022,” according to a statement released by NASA on Wednesday.
“While the teams are not working on any major concerns,” NASA noted. Also, NASA has added more time to finish closeout procedures inside the Vehicle Assembly building before rolling the combined rocket and spacecraft out for the first time.
The rocket and spacecraft stack is now located inside the Vehicle Assembly Building and is 322 feet (98 meters) tall. If the test goes well, the stack will be returned to this location until it is ready to launch. When Artemis I debuts will be determined by the outcomes of the wet dress rehearsal.
There are currently two possible launch windows for Artemis I. The first is from April 8 to April 23, and the second is from May 7 to May 21. NASA officials announced in October that Artemis I may launch between March 12 and 27 and April 8 and 23.
The space agency has yet to declare a new launch date. “Right now, we’re kind of looking at mid-March,” Tom Whitmeyer, NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development, said at a news briefing, according to Space.com.
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“As we move closer to the final close-out, we’ll be in a better position to provide a definite target date.” The next stage toward launch will be a wet dress rehearsal when the deployment to the pad is completed successfully.
“Ahead of the wet dress rehearsal, the engineers will continue work on final closeout activities and flight termination system testing,” NASA added.
Reportedly, the space agency also shared that it is looking at possible launch dates in April and May.
‘Artemis 1’ will be the first of NASA’s Artemis missions, to land humans on the moon in the long run as part of a long-term ambition for a long-term lunar presence.
Since the agency’s final Apollo mission in 1972, this will be the first time NASA or anybody else has sent humans to the moon’s surface.
Cover Image: Pixbay
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