NASA announced that it will make another attempt to launch the Artemis I lunar mission next Saturday, after canceling the launch on Monday due to an engine problem.
The space agency is working for the debut of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule, for what would be a trip of more than a month around the Moon.
On Monday, NASA was unable to resolve a temperature problem identified with one of the rocket’s four liquid-fuel engines, discovered when they were missing Less than two hours to countdown.
NASA SLS program manager John Honeycutt said during a press conference Tuesday that the agency believes the engine problem was due to a faulty sensor, given an analysis of data which showed propellant flowing as expected.
Honeycutt noted that the technical team The rocket is still reviewing the data and still needs to “refine our plan” to make a Saturday launch possible. If NASA needs to get SLS off the launch pad to access the engine sensor, it would likely mean a delay of weeks or months before another launch attempt.
“Replace sensor on launch pad launch would be tricky,” Honeycutt said.
NASA’s Artemis I mission manager, Mike Sarafin, said the team will change the procedure for loading propellant into the rocket and begin trying to cool the engine to optimum temperature earlier during the countdown.
In particular, weather remains a concern as to whether NASA can attempt the launch I lie on Saturday, according to Space Force Weather Launch Officer Mark Burger.
“The probability of a weather violation at any point in the countdown still seems pretty high to me,” Burger said during the press conference.
NASA said a two-hour launch window opens at 2: 08 pm ET on Saturday, which means it could take off anytime between then and 4: pm a very good opportunity”, despite a forecast of approximately 60% that the weather would prevent the launch of the rocket.