Update: NASA all set for 2nd Artemis moon shot attempt
(Update: Sept. 3, 2022) Following the Saturday, August 29 scrubbed lunar launch, NASA is now looking at a 2:17 p.m. EDT launch, today, Saturday, September 3, for the launch of Artemis I, the first integrated test of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There is a two-hour launch window for this next attempt.
The Artemis I flight test is an uncrewed mission around the Moon that will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.
Live coverage of events will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website at: https://www.nasa.gov/live .
The launch countdown resumed this morning, Saturday, September 3, at the opening of a planned 2.5 hour built in hold, which began at 4:37 a.m.
Managers waved off the first launch attempt August 29 when launch controllers were unable to chill down the four RS-25 engines, with one engine showing higher temperatures than the other engines. Teams currently are analyzing data, updating procedures, and checking out hardware to address the issues.
Full launch coverage appears below:
All times are Eastern, all events will air live on NASA TV, and the information is subject to change based on real-time operations. Follow NASA’s Artemis blog for updates.
Saturday, September 3
5:45 a.m.: Coverage begins with commentary of tanking operations to load propellant into the SLS rocket.
12:15 p.m.: Full coverage begins in English. Launch coverage will continue through translunar injection and spacecraft separation, setting Orion on its path to the Moon.
1 p.m.: Launch coverage begins in Spanish on NASA’s Spanish-language YouTube account and will continue approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Mission coverage updates will be posted on the NASA en español social media channels.
6 p.m.: Coverage of the postlaunch news conference will follow approximately one hour after the live launch broadcast ends. Coverage start time is subject to change, based exact liftoff time. The postlaunch news conference will include the following participants:
- Bill Nelson, NASA administrator
- Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
- Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems Program manager, Kennedy
- Howard Hu, Orion Program manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
- John Honeycutt, Space Launch System Program manager, Marshall
- Emily Nelson, chief flight director, Johnson
9:45 p.m.: Coverage of Orion’s first outbound trajectory burn on the way to the Moon. Time of coverage start time is subject to change, based on exact liftoff time.
10:15 p.m.: Coverage of first Earth views from Orion during outbound coast to the Moon.
NASA Television coverage of additional events throughout the mission is available online.
NASA Launch Coverage in English
Briefings and launch coverage will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff.
Follow countdown coverage on NASA’s Artemis blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis
Live NASA TV coverage leading to launch will begin with commentary of tanking operations at 5:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, followed by launch coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m. Launch coverage will stream on the NASA website, as well as Facebook, Twitch, NASA YouTube, and in 4k on NASA’s UHD channel.
Officials are optimistic about a successful launch today as the weather appears to be cooperating. Ace News Today’s original report on the August 29 scrubbed mission appears below, beneath the video accompanying this article.
(Cover photo: NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
(Original report from Aug. 30, 2022) Yesterday, our favorite space agency was forced to scrub the highly anticipated moon launch of Artemis I. The approximately two-day countdown for launch began Saturday, August 27, and was waved off on Monday, August 29, after encountering a serious technical issue which involved getting one of the four RS-25 engines on the bottom of the rocket’s core stage to the proper temperature range for liftoff.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson provided brief remarks shortly after the scrub was announced yesterday.
NASA teams are in a “hold” in the countdown at T-40 minutes while engineers evaluate why the bleed test to condition the engines was not successful. Engineers are looking at options to gather as much data as possible. The Artemis I rocket and spacecraft are in a stable, safe condition.
For background purposes, Artemis I is a flight test to launch NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon before the Artemis II mission with astronauts aboard.
Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone to send astronauts to Mars.
NASA will hold a media teleconference at 6 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, August 30, to discuss the flight test of the the mega Moon rocket and uncrewed Orion spacecraft, currently at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the Artemis I lunar mission.
Audio of the teleconference will stream live online at: https://www.nasa.gov/live
For additional updates, you can follow along on NASA’s Artemis blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis
(Source: NASA) / (Cover Photo: A NASA helicopter flies past the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. NASA’s Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Image credit: NASA)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
