Even though Hurricane Nicole battered the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket of NASA‘s Artemis I mission, the launch is still scheduled for this week. According to NASA officials, the rocket and ship sustained only “very modest damage.” In order to test the technology before a series of crewed flights visit the Moon, the Artemis I mission will send the spacecraft on an unmanned voyage around the Moon.
It was debatable whether or not to leave the rocket on the Launchpad during a hurricane since scientists were worried that strong winds may cause it to shake. Previously, the rocket was brought back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for safety as Hurricane Ian neared the Florida coast last month. However, when Hurricane Nicole, which was then designated as a tropical storm, was coming last week, NASA officials made the decision to leave the rocket on the launch pad.
According to NASA representatives, the problem was that by the time forecasts for severe winds began to arrive, rolling the rocket back to the facility would have included its own risk. According to Jim Free, associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development, “the winds were particularly strong and the risk of rolling — that dynamic movement, which in general forces a lot of weight into the vehicle — and the risk of moving with the high winds, we opted to stay at the pad.”
It appears that the rocket escaped the storm with just little damage. The two main problems were a “suspicious” electrical hookup on the umbilical that supplies liquid hydrogen fuel to the rocket and some loose parts from the Orion spacecraft.
To read our blog on “NASA will proceed with its Wednesday Moon rocket launch,” click here.
