We reported last week in our “What’s Up There?” column, rather excitedly I might add, that the launch of the spacecraft Artemis II would take place on Saturday, February 7 or someday soon after. NASA has officially delayed that launch until March, though no official date has been announced yet.
Astronauts were already in isolation for mankind’s first voyage back to vicinity of the Moon if over half-a-century, but upon regular testing and filling of the SLS (Space Launch System) craft with liquid propellent, a leak was discovered. Troubleshooting was unable to close the leak in a quick-enough time to ease worries, coupled with the discovery that a valve on the Orion crew module required some adjusting and impeded the craft’s pressurization. NASA stated cold weather had an effect on the SLS, as well as multiple other pieces of equipment on the ground or launch pad.
NASA’s Rachel Kraft said, “Crew safety will remain the highest priority, ensuring NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, return home at the end of their mission.”
By Sam Bishop