Nasa returning to the Moon with mega rocket launch

CAPE CANAVERAL: Third time’s the charm?

A er two failed a empts, Nasa plans to launch its new mega Moon rocket early Wednesday from Florida, less than a week a er the massive machine withstood a hurricane.

“Our time is coming. And we hope that that is on Wednesday,” said Mike Sarafin, the manager of the much-delayed Artemis 1 mission, at Nasa headquarters.

The Artemis 1 mission, a test flight without astronauts, represents the first step in the US space agency’s plan to build a lasting presence on the Moon, and taking lessons from there to prepare for a future voyage to Mars.

Named a er the sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, the new space programme comes 50 years a er humans last set foot on lunar soil.

The first launch of the Space Launch System rocket, the most powerful ever designed by Nasa, is set for Wednesday at 1.04am local time (0604 GMT), with a possible launch window of two hours. Countdown has already begun at the storied Kennedy Space Center, where the orange and white behemoth awaits its maiden flight. The takeoff is scheduled less than a week a er the passage of Hurricane Nicole, which the rocket endured outside on its launch pad.

For now, officials are evaluating the risk associated with hurricane damage to a thin strip of caulk-like material called RTV, which encircles the Orion crew capsule atop the rocket, and makes it more aerodynamic.

Teams are looking at whether the RTV could shake loose during launch and pose problems.

Two backup dates are possible if needed, on Nov 19 and 25.

The weather promises to be mild, with a 90 percent chance of favourable conditions during the launch window.

Nasa is banking on a successful mission a er developing the SLS rocket for more than a decade. It will have invested more than US$90 billion in its new lunar programme by the end of 2025, according to a public audit. — AFP