NASA will once again attempt to launch Artemis 1. According to Space.com, the megarocket is set to have a test flight to the moon on September 23.
However, this will only push through if NASA would be able to fix the leak in the megarocket. Moreover, the agency needs to get the critical waiver from the U.S. Space Force.
NASA Satisfies Requirements to Push the September 23 Launch Attempt
According to Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator for exploration systems development, NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission launch could happen on September 23 or 27.
There are certain requirements for the launch to push through such as "NASA securing a waiver to extend the time needed to check batteries on the SLS' flight termination system (FTS)."
The FTS is incorporated in the rocket in order to destroy it if it "veers off course during launch."
As required by the U.S. Space Force, NASA should test the FTS every 25 days. The U.S. Space Force is the one that oversees the Eastern Range used for Florida rocket launches, as per Space.com.
Testing the FTS "requires the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) rocket to leave the launch pad and roll back to its hangar," as per Space.com.
According to Free, the mission managers of Artemis 1 already presented a waiver request to the Eastern Range. NASA's job is to comply and satisfy the Eastern Range requirements, Free added.
It is unknown how much extension NASA requested to the agency. According to Space.com, one FTS waiver was already secured by NASA.
Read Also: 10 More Things to Know About the Artemis 1 Moon Mission
NASA is Fixing the Leaking in the Megarocket
NASA attempted to launch Artemis 1 on September 3 for the second the time. But after detecting a hydrogen leak during the time that fuel was being loaded to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the launch was canceled again.
According to CNBC, The Artemis I mission is historic for it will also be the time that SLS rocket will debut. The mission will carry the uncrewed Orion capsule. It is expected to travel for more than month around the moon.
NASA attempted to fix the leak during the launch countdown on Saturday, but these were unsuccessful.
According to NASA, they are still working on fixing the problem with the megarocket. The team working on the rocket aims to complete the replacement of seals on the fueling system as soon as possible, said CNBC.
To know if the replacement work on the rocket is successful, NASA is planning to have a tanking demonstration on September 17.
Once all the works and testing are completed, NASA will proceed with the launch. New launch dates were requested by the agency from the U.S. Space Force's Eastern Range.
Artemis 1 is an uncrewed flight. It will test the SLS megarocket as well as the Orion spacecraft to know if it is safe to fly astronauts to the moon. It is the first mission of the Artemis program, which is aiming to bring astronauts to the moon once again by 2025.
Related Article: NASA Postpones Artemis 1 Launch Following Issues Found During Countdown
