Article summary
NASA puts Artemis back on the launch pad for launch on November 14
Artemis, already on the 4th attempt … Is there a defect in the device or bad weather this time?
[서울=뉴시스]Reporter Hyun-seong Yoon = The rocket of the American lunar exploration project ‘Artemis 1’, which suffered three difficulties, remained on the launch pad again. As the program was delayed for several months due to device glitches and bad weather, it was feared that the launch might not be possible during this year, but it was once again aimed at the moon.
According to NASA, the Artemis 1 rocket and the “Orion” spacecraft started moving from the Kennedy Space Center Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B at 11:57 pm local time on the 3rd. Immediately after leaving the assembly building , Artemis 1 stopped for the transfer of boarding passes, etc., then moved about 4 miles (about 6.5 km) in about 9 hours and landed on the launch pad at 8:30 am of 4.
NASA is aiming for the launch window (launch window) to be held for 69 minutes from 12:07 am on the 14th when Artemis 1 is back on the launch pad. According to NASA, the launch period is the optimal launch time derived from calculating the Earth’s rotation and the orbit of the Moon. Since both rotation and orbit must be considered, the opportunities are limited to a few days per month and several hours per day.
Since NASA did not launch during the available launch period of October 17 to 31 last year, there were only two possible launch times left this year: November 12 to 27 and December 9 to 23. Although NASA has not yet revealed a preliminary launch date, even if the launch of the 14 fails due to unforeseen variables, a new challenge could be made before the 27.
Artemis 1 is already trying to brave the fourth moon in the second half of this year. The previous scheduled launch date was August 29, but it was canceled due to overlap issues of liquid hydrogen fuel leaks and bad weather in the engine part. The third attempt was then attempted on Sept. 27, but the launch was eventually canceled as weather conditions worsened as Tropical Storm Ian moved to the Florida coast where the launch pad was located.
Notably, since the launch of Artemis 1 failed due to a fuel leak problem, NASA has conducted tests, including a cooling fuel injection test, to fix the technical flaws, but it is known that in the process it does not additional problems were encountered.
This launch of Artemis 1 is the first step of the Artemis project, which involves a total of three phases. As a successor to the “Apollo Project”, which last sent humanity to the moon 50 years ago, it is named after Artemis, the moon goddess and twin sister of Apollo, the sun god in Greek mythology.
In the first phase of the project, currently underway by NASA, three dummies will be used instead of humans to attempt a 42-day lunar orbital flight. If the first phase is successful, the second manned flight stage (in 2024, 4 pilots) and the third manned landing stage (in 2025, 4 pilots) can be promoted.
Regarding the fourth Artemis 1 challenge, NASA pointed out: “The research team will continue to work hard to configure the device and system environment of the Artemis rocket and the Orion spacecraft so that the launch attempt of the 14 can be successful “.
☞ Empathy media news [email protected]
Copyright ⓒ Gonggyong Media, News News. Unauthorized reproduction-redistribution is prohibited
