Watch Live: NASA Pauses Countdown of Artemis 1 Launch to Troubleshoot Engine Issue

Ground groups at Kennedy Space Center in Florida have detected a difficulty with certainly one of 4 Space Launch System fundamental engines and are at present working to resolve the problem earlier than right this moment’s two-hour launch window closes. The launch window opens at 8:33 a.m. ET.

We will replace this text as new data turns into obtainable. A reside stream of the motion is obtainable right here:

The unplanned maintain started at 7:10 a.m. ET. Launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson is at present consulting with the crew in anticipation of a troubleshooting plan and a manner ahead.

Engineers are at present struggling to dial-in the temperature of core stage engine quantity three. Tanking of the engines started at 1:14 a.m. ET, however in the course of the engine bleed, engineers discovered that the engine wasn’t reaching the specified temperature, in accordance with Artemis Launch Control. This was one thing the groups have been hoping to deal with over the past moist costume rehearsal however have been unable to take action, that means this has been the primary alternative for the groups to see this explicit concern reside in motion.

If the crew misses right this moment’s launch window, there are backup home windows obtainable on September 2 and September 5. You can learn all concerning the Artemis 1 mission right here.

Capable of producing 8.1 million kilos of thrust, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) shall be largest rocket to ever take flight. The rocket is a crucial centerpiece to the upcoming Artemis period, by which NASA seeks a everlasting return to the lunar surroundings. The first launch represents Artemis 1, a mission that goals to ship an uncrewed Orion capsule on a 42-day journey to the Moon and again. For this flight, three manikins will journey in Orion to measure the stresses that actual astronauts would face on the journey.

It’s all in preparation for Artemis 3, by which NASA hopes to land a person and a lady on the lunar floor. This may happen as early as 2025. You can learn all concerning the Artemis program right here.