Emily Puckering
NASA's rocket launch to the moon is set to lift off today despite experiencing another delay, marking the second attempt at the historic journey.
The uncrewed Artemis I mission is preparing for its second chance to lift off today (Saturday 3 September) from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, with the launch window opening at 2:17 pm ET and closing at 4:17 pm, CNN reports.
However, at around 7.15 am ET a 30-minute delay occurred after a liquid hydrogen leak was detected in the quick disconnect cavity - this is what feeds the rocket with hydrogen in the engine section of the core stage.
The flow of liquid hydrogen has since been resumed and liquid oxygen continues to slowly flow into the core stage.
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According to weather officer Melody Lovin, there is a 60 percent chance of favourable weather conditions for the launch, with chances increasing to 80 percent favourable towards the end of the window.
This comes after the original launch was halted on 29 August when a suspected leak was spotted as the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was being fuelled.
Upon closer inspection, however, the suspected leak was deemed not serious enough to prevent launch. The space agency later said in a live stream that an engine cooling issue was also responsible for the delay.
The rocket engine must cool before the launch can take place, with NASA yet to confirm the new launch time.
Artemis I is an unmanned mission and will see the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launch into the atmosphere with the Orion spacecraft on top.
When it is orbiting the Earth, the SLS rocket's advanced systems will give Orion the push it needs to fly to the moon, where it will venture thousands of miles beyond the celestial body for the duration of the four-to-six-week mission.
As NASA stated about the mission: "Artemis I will be the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to build a long-term human presence at the Moon for decades to come.
"The primary goals for Artemis I are to demonstrate Orion’s systems in a spaceflight environment and ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery prior to the first flight with crew on Artemis II."
Orion is set to stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and will return home 'faster and hotter than ever before'.
This is a developing story and updates will be posted accordingly.
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