new takeoff attempt on Saturday for the NASA rocket
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After a first failed attempt on Monday due to a technical problem, NASA, the American space agency, announced on Tuesday August 30 that it would attempt to launch its new mega-rocket on Saturday.
“We have agreed to change our take-off date to Saturday, September 3”declared at a press conference Mike Sarafin, in charge of NASA’s Artemis-1 mission, which should mark the start of the American program to return to the Moon.
A meteorological official said ” optimistic “ for Saturday, even if the probability of unfavorable conditions during the scheduled two-hour shooting window – it begins at 2:17 p.m. local time (8:17 p.m. Paris time) – is “high”.
The Space Launch System (SLS), this new NASA rocket – the most powerful in the world – takes off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Verify vehicle safety for future astronauts
The rocket launch was canceled on Monday at the last moment due to a cooling problem in one of the four main engines, under the main stage. These RS-25 engines need to be cooled so they don’t get shocked by the ultra-cold fuel when ignited. But one of them could not reach the desired temperature. This is achieved by letting a small part of the cryogenic fuel escape on the engines. NASA teams suspect a problem related to “sensors” possibly defective, said John Honeycutt, in charge of the rocket program. NASA also plans to start engine cooling earlier in the countdown.
Thousands of people made the trip on Monday to attend the show, including the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. A leak problem when filling the fuel tanks had also been observed, and even if it had been overcome, NASA teams will also work to fix it by Saturday.
The Artemis-1 mission is to launch the unmanned Orion capsule into orbit around the Moon, to verify that the vehicle is safe for future astronauts – including the first woman and the first person of color to walk on the lunar surface .
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