The long-awaited launch of NASA's Space Launch System rocket has been pushed back to mid-November after NASA canceled its September 27th launch plans due to Hurricane Ian. The Artemis I launch is expected to take place between November 12th and November 27th.
After NASA decided to roll the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to protect it from the storm, the next attempt was scrapped. The rocket was successfully secured by NASA on Tuesday.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm but weakened into a tropical storm before reaching the Kennedy Space Center. NASA says there was no damage to Artemis flight hardware.
The first woman and person of color will be on the moon when NASA sends an uncrewed capsule on a journey around the lunar surface. The first attempt was cut short after the rocket experienced engine issues, and the second attempt was marred by a large leak that occurred when engineers filled up the rocket with chilled liquid hydrogen fuel.
There was a leak in the fueling system but it was at a manageable level. NASA will retest the Flight Termination System, which the Space Force uses to destroy the rocket if it goes off course, after the rocket returned to the VAB.
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