NASA moon rocket faces more flight delays as repairs mount

The launch of the mega moon rocket will be delayed after a string of failed fueling tests.

It will be difficult to meet a launch window in early to mid-June. The next chance to send an empty capsule to the moon would be at the end of June or July.

The Space Launch System rocket has been at Kennedy Space Center for a month. The hangar will be used for valve and fuel leak repairs next week. NASA was unable to fill the fuel tanks for the dress rehearsal because of problems earlier this month.

The rocket will likely spend weeks in the hangar before heading back to the pad for a testing redo, according to the launch director.

Various options are being considered for getting back on track.

It is a matter of what is the right time and the right way to do it, according to a NASA deputy associate administrator.

NASA wants this test flight under its belt before putting astronauts on board for the second launch. The third mission would attempt to land astronauts on the moon around 2025.

The Associated Press. All rights belong to the person. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Citation: NASA moon rocket faces more flight delays as repairs mount (2022, April 18) retrieved 18 April 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-04-nasa-moon-rocket-flight-mount.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.