NASA officials, already working through technical problems ahead of the Artemis I moon mission, have opted to suspend next week’s scheduled launch attempt as Tropical Storm Ian approaches Florida.
Citing the storm and its projected path showing landfall on the state’s west coast, officials said Saturday that the next window to fly, Sept. 27 at 11:37 a.m., would not be possible because of the weather. Ian was expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Sunday afternoon.
“During a meeting Saturday morning, the teams decided to abandon preparations for Tuesday’s launch date to allow them to set up systems to pull the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft back into the building vehicle assembly,” NASA said in a statement Saturday. “Engineers deferred a final decision on the role until Sunday to allow for additional data collection and analysis.”
If officials decide a recall is needed, that roughly 11-hour process would begin Sunday night or Monday morning.
Ian, meanwhile, continues to churn and gain strength south of Cuba, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Current projections show it strengthening to a Category 3 just before landfall north of Tampa.
‘Space is the place’:NASA administrator touts Artemis I as key to our future on Mars
Tropical Storm Ian:Ian forms in the Caribbean, could hit Florida as a major hurricane: what we know
But the latest NHC updates have shown some promise for NASA officials, as the projected path continues to move slightly westward. If this trend continues and projections show that the wind speed at Kennedy Space Center will be less than 74 knots (about 85 mph), NASA may choose to keep the rocket on the pad until the next window opens.
As it stands, the current window to fly closes on October 4. With the September 27th attempt canceled, another attempt at the October 2nd backup date is possible, but depends on several factors. If SLS returns to VAB, this window is likely not possible.
Meanwhile, the Space Force went into “HURCON V” status on Friday and began preparing its two Space Coast bases — Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base — for to Ian’s impacts. Being responsible for public safety, the military branch has the final say on what is launched from both the KSC and the Cape and when.
Artemis I is NASA’s first mission under its new lunar return program. If the SLS successfully launches its uncrewed Orion capsule to the Moon and back, it will pave the way for astronauts to do the same for Artemis II no earlier than 2024. Artemis III will follow and put two people on the lunar surface earlier of 2030.
For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.
