[blogs.nasa.gov]


NASA is targeting the next launch attempt of the Artemis I mission for Monday, Nov. 14 with liftoff of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft planned during a 69-minute launch window that opens at 12:07 a.m. EST. Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test to launch SLS and send Orion around the Moon and back to Earth to thoroughly test its system before flights with astronauts.

Inspections and analyses over the previous week have confirmed minimal work is required to prepare the rocket and spacecraft to roll out to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the roll-back due to Hurricane Ian. Teams will perform standard maintenance to repair minor damage to the foam and cork on the thermal protection system and recharge or replace batteries on the rocket, several secondary payloads, and the flight termination system. The agency plans to roll the rocket back to the launch pad as early as Friday, Nov. 4.

NASA has requested back-up launch opportunities for Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1:04 a.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:45 a.m., which are both two-hour launch windows. A launch on Nov. 14 would result in a mission duration of about 25-and-a-half days with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean Friday, Dec. 9.

Note they did not say 2022 ;)

Kidding of course. Hope it finally gets off the ground - and is successful.

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Good Luck!
Jamie Dresser
Other World Computing

I wish them 100% success!

It's also interesting that SpaceX's Starship and Superheavy orbital test MAY happen around the same time. They haven't announced a date yet, but the last estimate was "November, possibly by the end of October". Still some tests to do (like, fully fueling and do a full 33 engine start test!), but, they're stacked on the pad right now...
It's a bit of a race, even though both "teams" are on the same side (since SpaceX has the Artemis lander contract).

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

I wish them the best as well but I wonder how long they can drag this out. Fingers crossed for them.

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Ukulele music I couldn't find anywhere else.
[colquhoun.info]