[ad_1]
As we had the opportunity to write only a little while ago, the decision of the US space agency has come: the large space rocket NASA SLS for the Artemis I mission directed towards the moon will have to return to the Vehicle Assembly Building to allow better protection fromHurricane Ian which is about to arrive in the areas of Florida where the Kennedy Space Center is located.
In light green the short duration mission, in dark green the long duration mission and in red when the rocket can be launched but Orion may have problems
The announcement took place a little while ago and this shifts the chances of launch by several weeks. The start of the move will take place at the beginning of the day tomorrow if the announced deadlines are respected. This will obviously reduce the risk of damage to the space rocketof the capsule and structures as well as safeguarding the health of the staff employed. On the other hand, as written, it will not allow to launch Artemis I neither on September 27 nor on October 2 (the first two windows available).
The NASA SLS rocket will return to the VAB to protect itself from Hurricane Ian
According to what is reported inlast press release of the NASAthe great space rocket it will be moved together with the Mobile Launcher Platform through the Crawler-transporter when in Italy it will be 5:00 on September 27th (11:00 pm today, local time). As always, the movement will take place at very low speed and will take about 10 hours to travel the 6.8 km that separate Launch Pad 39B from the VAB.
As officially written “The executives met on Monday morning and made the decision based on the latest weather forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian, after additional data collected overnight did not show improvement in conditions expected for the Kennedy Space Center area. . The decision gives employees time to meet the needs of their families and protect the integrated rocket and spacecraft system. The timing of the first movement is also based on the best conditions expected for the rollback to meet the weather criteria for the movement itself. [ndr. si possono leggere qui]“.
According to Eric Berger (by Ars Technica) this choice would be precautionary because, according to the latest data, the hurricane may not be particularly strong in the areas of the Kennedy Space Center where it is located. NASA SLS. Furthermore, always Berger, added that this could ensure that the launch takes place no earlier than November 12, thus skipping all possible windows (which open starting from October 17).
This obviously raises other problems related to solid-state propellant boosters that have exceeded the optimal conditions for launch (but which are still functional according to NASA) in addition to the FTS system, Flight Termination System, which will have to be re-certified by the US Space Force that deals with the Eastern Range. As for the Cubesats integrated in the Orion Stage Adapter, the problems would be minor, at least for some of them, as the batteries should still have enough charge.
Gift ideas, why waste time and risk making mistakes?
GIVE A GOOD AMAZON!
.
[ad_2]
Source link
