NASA scrubbed the test flight of its giant moon rocket on Monday due to a temperature problem with one of its four RS-25 engines.
Alternative dates for the launch of the Artemis 1 mission, an unmanned flight around the moon as part of an ambitious program to eventually go to Mars, are September 2 and September 5.
the launch of #Artemis I’m not happening anymore today as teams solve an engine breather problem. Teams will continue to collect data and we’ll keep you updated on the timing of the next launch attempt. https://t.co/tQ0lp6Ruhvpic.twitter.com/u6Uiim2mom
— NASA (@NASA) 29 August 2022
Tens of thousands of people, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, gathered along the beach at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch the launch. The mission takes place 50 years after Apollo 17 astronauts last set foot on the moon.
The purpose of the flight, dubbed Artemis 1, is to test the SLS and the Orion crew pod that sits atop the missile. Mannequins equipped with sensors replace a crew for the mission.
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