NASA Artemis I Launch Might See Another Delay due to Weather Issues as a Tropical Storm is Forming

NASA Artemis I got another launch date for its most-awaited flight, which would take place by Tuesday next week, September 27, but there are speculations on yet another delay for the mission. It is because of weather issues that may present a problem to making it to the Moon, especially as a tropical storm is forming on the Caribbean sea at present.

Weather watchers from Space Force's 45th weather squadron saw a storm brewing and headed towards Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located.

NASA Artemis I Face Weather Issues for Tuesday Launch

The United States Space Force released a new weather forecast earlier, and it talks about a tropical storm from the Caribbean Sea that would make its way to Florida. Sadly, this is also the site of the Launch Pad 39B, where the Artemis I mission will take off from, with the SLS rocket propelling the hopes and dreams of humans toward the Moon.

Hurricane Fiona is moving up and heading for the country, and the tropical storm devastated Puerto Rico and other parts of Latin America.

On this note, the NASA Artemis I, which saw a launch scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, is facing new weather issues in the region, affecting its launch window.

According to its forecast, Space Force said the weather would be only 20 percent favorable by Tuesday.

Is the Artemis I Launch Seeing Another Delay?

NASA, Space Force, and the Artemis I team hint at another possible delay for the Moon mission launch next Tuesday, but the good news is that it is because of natural reasons. The company has already fixed the problems from the recent delay and is looking ready for its next launch at the earliest possible time.

However, the chances of the mission launching by Tuesday are thinning due to this intense tropical storm moving towards Florida.

The Artemis I Mission and the SLS

The NASA Artemis I had a series of unfortunate events during the past month, and it seems like it is continuing for the agency's focus to return to the lunar surface in this modern take on Moon missions. Towards August's end, NASA was planning to launch the Artemis I with the SLS rocket and take its full might to the natural satellite, its first supposed return after several decades.

However, a leak in the rocket's tank presented a massive obstacle for the agency, scrubbing the launch for another date after it fixed the problem.

The launch windows closed, and nearby dates were also unavailable for the mission as NASA and its Artemis I team needed to fix it first before the actual flight. Initial speculations for the next date would be in October, but the agency was able to squeeze in a new date for September, particularly on the scheduled Tuesday launch next week.

Still, that date may need to take a literal and figurative rain check as a storm is heading towards Florida, and chances are it will affect the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral. There is only a small chance of a green light for the upcoming date, and it may mean the agency may need to delay the upcoming launch again for favorable weather.

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Written by Isaiah Richard