JAKARTA - The Artemis 1 mission was again postponed by NASA because it was reported that there would be a Nicole Tropical Storm heading to the East Coast of Florida, United States (US) as a Category 1 storm.
The launch site of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida is also located on the southeast coast, but is north of the projected path of Hurricane Nicola, which is likely to hit West Palm Beach, about 150 miles south of KSC.
NASA has chosen not to return the SLS to the hangar, because they think the safest option is to store it and secure it on the runway, including with Orion.
The storm Category 1, called Hurricane Nicola, carries winds at a speed of 74 mph to 95 mph. However, the SLS rocket is designed to withstand the 85 mph wind at an altitude of 60 feet with a structural margin.
"The current forecast predicts the biggest risk on the runway is strong winds that are not expected to exceed the SLS design. The rocket is designed to withstand heavy rains on the launch pad and the hold of the spacecraft has been secured to prevent water intrusion," NASA explained.
Launching ZDNet, Thursday, November 10, anticipating the storm, NASA has deactivated Orion, the core stage of SLS, the provisional cryogenic propulsion stage, and boosters. They also put a loud cover above the launch cancellation system window. The team has also secured equipment that could be carried away by the storm.
Previously, NASA targeted November 14 for its third launch agenda but now they set out between November 16 or 19, pending safe conditions to return to work, as well as inspections after the storm passed.
According to a NASA report, when the launch date is set, it will start with a two-hour launch window opening at 1:04 ET.
For information, the Artemis 1 mission is a mission that will send NASA's new rocket and spacecraft, unmanned, and surround the Moon's orbit as a test run before a mission carrying humans within the next decade.
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