NASA personnel made some improvements to the SLS launcher and the Orion spacecraft in preparation for the third launch attempt, after the previous two were canceled at the last minute due to leaks from the fuel tanks
Monday, November 14 is the target date for the next launch attempt of the Artemis 1 mission. A 69-minute launch window will open at 12:07 EST for the launch of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft. This after two launch attempts were canceled at the last minute on September 29 and August 3 due to a leak from the fuel tanks. In between, it was necessary to put the launcher and the spacecraft into a protected area for the passage of the storm Ian that sowed destruction throughout Florida. Artemis 1 is an unmanned test flight designed to launch SLS and send Orion around the moon and back to Earth, to thoroughly test its system before flying with astronauts aboard.
Tests and analyzes last week confirmed that minimal work was needed to prepare the rocket and spacecraft for transport to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the return transport due to Hurricane Ian. Teams of engineers and technicians will perform standard maintenance to repair minor damages to the foam and cork in the heat protection system. They will also recharge or replace batteries in the rocket, some secondary payloads and the flight termination system. NASA plans to drive the rocket back so the launch is already on Friday, November 4.
NASA requested backup options for launch on Wednesday, November 16 at 01:04 and Saturday, November 19 at 01:45. Both days have launch windows of two hours. If the launch is on November 14, the duration of the mission will be around 25 and a half days ending with a landing in the waters of the Pacific Ocean on Friday, December 9.
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Apparently diversity does not help science