NASA delays Artemis 1 moon launch to Nov. 16 due to Tropical Storm Nicole

The Artemis 1 moon mission is being negatively impacted by Mother Nature.

Artemis 1 was supposed to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center next week. The planned liftoff has been pushed back two days due to Tropical Storm Nicole.

NASA officials said in an email that changing the target launch date will allow the workforce to tend to the needs of their families and homes and give them enough time to get back into launch status following the storm.

Related: NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission: Live updates

More: 10 wild facts about the Artemis 1 moon mission

The first Artemis mission will use a SLS rocket to launch an uncrewed capsule to the moon.

The target date for Artemis 1 was pushed back by a month because of problems with the game. NASA had to return the Artemis 1 stack to the Vehicle Assembly Building in late September due to Hurricane Ian.

Artemis 1 stayed in the VAB for more than a month, as mission team members performed a variety of repairs. After rolling back out to the pad, the vehicle will stay there through Nicole's landfall. CNN is reporting that the storm is expected to slam into Florida as a Category 1 Hurricane.

NASA officials wrote in Tuesday's update that the SLS rocket is designed to survive 85 mph winds at 60 feet. High winds that are not expected to exceed the SLS design are predicted to be the greatest risk at the pad. The rocket is designed to survive heavy rains at the launch pad, and the hatch on the craft have been secured to keep water out.

A "ride-out team" that will stay at the center during the storm is one of the things that site staff are doing to make sure that everything is okay.

The launch is scheduled to begin at 1:04 a.m. and last for two hours. The time is 0604GMT. The mission will end on December 11 if Artemis 1 gets off the ground on that day.

The next launch opportunity will be on Nov. 19 if Artemis 1 can't fly.

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