The SLS rocket is NASA's only chance of catching a break.
After two aborted attempts to send the vehicle on its maiden flight a month ago, NASA decided to abandon a third attempt as Tropical Storm Ian approached the Kennedy Space Center launch site in Florida.
NASA has little choice but to remove the rocket from the launchpad to protect it from possible damage because Tropical Storm Ian has now turned into Hurricane Ian.
Fans of very slow TV can watch NASA carry the rocket back to its shelter inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, a process that will begin at 11pm. The time is 8p.m. Continue through the evening.
The Artemis I NASA SLS rocket will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA Kennedy due to forecasts of Hurricane Ian. The first motion will take place at 11 pm. NASA said it would make a decision at 8 pm.
Due to weather predictions related to Hurricane Ian, @NASA teams will roll the #Artemis I @NASA_SLS rocket and @NASA_Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy.
First motion is targeted for 11 pm ET tonight: https://t.co/Bx7oanmpa4 pic.twitter.com/wwPds84R36
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) September 26, 2022
The SLS team is trying to send a 98 meter tall rocket to space for the first time as part of the Artemis I mission, but the Hurricane is making it difficult.
No firm date has been set for the next launch attempt, but once in space, the SLS vehicle will deploy the Orion spacecraft, which will perform a flyby of the moon before returning to Earth.
NASA will send astronauts on Artemis II if Artemis I goes well, but they won't have a crew.
After that, Artemis III will attempt to put the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface in what will be the first crewed landing since 1972.
NASA needs calm weather to launch the Artemis program.
Ian is expected to be a major Hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico during the middle of this week.
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