NASA plans to launch its massive next-generation moon rocket for the second time on Saturday, September 3. An initial attempt to get the spaceship off the ground for the first time was thwarted by a couple of technical difficulties.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and its Orion crew capsule are expected to remain on the launch pad. The engine cooling problem was caused by a malfunctioning sensor in the rocket’s engine section. Mission planners want to start the engine cooling procedure around 30 minutes sooner in the launch countdown. The SLS-inaugural Orion’s flight will put the 5.75-million-pound vehicle through its paces in a grueling demonstration flight.
Artemis is also soliciting private and international assistance to eventually create a long-term lunar outpost as a stepping stone to even more ambitious human journeys to Mars, which NASA officials estimate will take until the late 2030s.
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