Another disheartening update from NASA’s launchpad. The legendary Artemis mission has been delayed yet again, and the rocket has been damaged by Hurricane Nicole.
The storm made landfall in the early morning hours of Thursday just south of Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
Jim Free, an associate administrator at NASA, stated, “Minor damage, such as loose caulk and tears in weather coverings, was discovered by the agency.
According to Free, the rocket’s body experienced wind gusts of up to 82 miles (132 kilometres) per hour. He said it is “within the capabilities of the rocket.”
The iconic Artemis 1 mission will now launch on November 16th. It will mark the first flight of the long-awaited US “return to moon” programme. NASA plans to use an Artemis rocket to transport astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2025.
The launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the United States’ last human lunar landing in December 1972. Everyone is looking forward to it. We’re all excited to see the rocket blast off from the launchpad on November 16th.
