NASA’s special lunar mission Artemis-1 was scheduled to launch for the second time on Saturday. But this time too there is an obstacle in the space journey of the rocket. Engineers noticed a fuel leak during the launch. As a result, researchers believe that the launch time of the rocket may be delayed again.
Millions of people around the world and on beaches near the launch site eagerly await the historic launch of the massive Space Launch System (SLS). But project engineers said a leak was found near the base of the rocket caused by pumping super-cooled liquid hydrogen.
NASA said engineers will stop the flow of liquid hydrogen into the tank, closing the valve used to fill and drain it. Then it will try to close again.’
After Monday, the space agency did not provide any information about the possibility of new delays to the Artemis program. But today’s (Saturday) launch is still scheduled for 2:17 a.m. from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. It can be extended up to two hours if necessary.
“Our team is ready,” Jeremy Parsons, Kennedy Space Center’s deputy manager of Exploration Ground Systems, said Friday. They are getting more experienced with each attempt. Actually performed brilliantly during launch countdown number one… I think if the weather and hardware are compatible we should be able to take off.’
Although the area around the launch site will be closed to the public, an estimated 400,000 people gathered on a nearby beach to watch the launch of NASA’s most powerful rocket.
(September 3)