NASA sets new date for launch attempt in Artemis I mission
Artemis 1 The Artemis 1 stack, which consists of the giant Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule, had been rolled into NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building before Hurricane Ian arrived in Florida. (NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky))
The space agency is targeting Nov. 14 at 12:07 a.m. for liftoff.
NASA has reserved a 69-minute window to get the Space Launch System rocket off the ground and on a test flight that will aim to carry the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth.
After two failed attempts to launch the rocket and spacecraft because of technical issues on Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, NASA officials were confronted with another major concern brought on by Mother Nature in late September — Hurricane Ian.
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continue at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continue at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continue at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continue at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch The Artemis I rocket sits on launch pad 39-B at Kennedy Space Center as it is prepared for launch of an unmanned flight around the moon on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continue at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch Spacecraft Technicians Matt Lauer (left) and Robert Ware work on the Orion crew capsule for the Artemis 2 mission at the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch The Service Module component of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission is shown as it is prepared for a future mission at the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch Part of the Orion crew capsule for the Artemis 3 mission is shown as it is prepared for a future mission at the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Photos: NASA's Artemis I moon rocket on track for Monday launch Spacecraft Technicians Steve Grasso (left) and Matt Lauer work on the Orion crew capsule for the Artemis 2 mission at the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Engineers decided to roll back the rocket and Orion from Launch Pad 39B to the safe surroundings of its Vehicle Assembly Building before the monster storm hit Space Coast.
NASA said that recent inspections revealed good news in that minimal work will be needed to get the SLS and spacecraft back onto the launch pad, which could happen as soon as Nov. 4.
A successful launch on Nov. 14 means that splashdown of the Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean would happen on Dec. 9.
Should an issue lead to another scrub on Nov. 14, the agency is already thinking ahead.
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