NASA has announced that it is pushing back the date when astronauts could fly to the moon, amid forecasts of near-freezing temperatures at the Cape Canaveral launch pad.
The earliest window for the mission is now February 8, two days later than originally planned. The crew, when launched, will not land on the Moon, the mission being one that prepares for a future landing in the coming years. However, it will be the first exit of people into space itself after a long time, writes Mediafax.
The space agency was preparing to conduct a key test of fueling the 98-meter rocket on the launch pad over the weekend. But the wave of arctic air that followed a deadly winter storm brought severe temperatures to many parts of the US, and Florida is not spared: values are expected to drop around the freezing mark, the lowest in decades.
“Weather expected this weekend would violate launch conditions”NASA said, weather permitting, the teams will try to complete the tests on Monday, after which a launch date will be set.
The window narrows, the crew remains in quarantine
The change reduces the chances of a February launch: There are only three days left with potential windows for a manned flyby to the moon. Meanwhile, the four-astronaut team remains in quarantine in Houston, according to the agency.
To protect the capsule, NASA announced that it has heaters installed on top of the Orion capsule, and purge systems are set up for colder weather so that the right conditions are maintained.
Close coordination with a launch to the ISS
In addition to the lunar mission, officials are also preparing to send a crew to the International Space Station (ISS), a schedule that must be carefully synchronized with plans for the flight to the moon. The next crew rotation to the ISS could happen as early as February 11, but could be delayed depending on the final decision on the launch of the lunar mission.
“Our teams have been working very carefully to see how we can proceed to launch for both missions while avoiding major conflicts,” Ken Bowersox said in a briefing Friday.
There is also the possibility that the crew to the ISS will overlap some of their time in space with the crew that will fly to the Moon – a prospect welcomed with enthusiasm by the astronauts. “If we launch before Artemis, we’ll be aboard the International Space Station, and part of their flight plan includes a call to the ISS.”said Jessica Meir, the crew commander, adding that they would be “excited” to have a conversation “from space with colleagues.”
An eye-catching detail: the new launch window, February 8, falls on the same day as the Super Bowl, the National Football League championship final, one of the most watched sporting events in the US.
