NASA Delays Artemis 1 Program Until March 2022 Due to Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Engine Replacement

The new and improved moon mission will be delayed to spring season next year following a minor problem in the rocket's engine system. The first attempt to return on the lunar surface is all set, and the flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket will just be rescheduled for March 2022, a month more than the original date expected.

Artemis 1 SLS Megarocket Engine Launch on March 2022

US-SPACE-SLS — This NASA photo released on January 6, 2020, shows NASA's powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which will send astronauts a quarter-million miles from Earth to lunar orbit at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. - The agency is committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024. Through the agency's Artemis lunar exploration program, we will use innovative new technologies and systems to explore more of the Moon than ever before. On January 1, 2020, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted: "Making progress! The massive @NASA_SLS core stage is moving to Building 110 at the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. There it will be readied for the Pegasus barge and its trip to @NASAStennis. Thank you to the @NASA team for working through the holidays!" JUDE GUIDRY/NASA/AFP via Getty Images

Rocket issues are so common that, sometimes, it hinders the execution of an overall project in space ventures. This week, NASA announced that their gigantic SLS rocket's engine system incurred some difficulty, which required the agency to push the first uncrewed return visit to the moon from February 12 to March. The megarocket is among the assets that will be laid out for the initial phases of the greater Artemis 1 program.

The Artemis program is anticipated to line up with other historic astronomical advancements of the decade. During the return of mankind to the lunar surface, a series of research and exploration will be conducted, adding certain data that we may have missed during the first successful moon landing back in 1969.

NASA said in their published Artemis statement last Friday (December 17) that a few tweaks and inspection allowed the experts to single out the possible solution to fix the problem of the SLS megarocket. According to the statement, the experts will have to replace the engine controller of the rocket. In this way, the full functions of the SLS will return to normal, while the experts will have a lot of time distinguishing the possible root cause of the issue.

NASA informed the public that their teams are currently constructing an effective game plan and the right timing of schedules to repair and replace the specified engine controller of the SLS megarocket. The rocket will still undergo several testings during the development that would make the mission slated out in March and April next year.

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Uncrewed Moon Mission on February Moved to Spring

The core booster inside the SLS is equipped with a central brain technology built-in four RS-25 engines. The experts consider these engines the most essential part of the megarocket regarding the flight trajectory. Two channels required to perfect a system redundancy can be performed by each of the said engines. The same system was already tested and performed well. However, the recent examination revealed several glitches on the channels.

Alongside the SLS megarocket, the Artemis mission will be conducted through the help of the famous Orion spacecraft. The vessel is currently under a series of testings in the NASA Kennedy Space Center. The space agency believes that the vessel will be ready for its launch when the final communication tests are successful.

Space reported that further investigations over the SLS rocket must be met for NASA to announce the concrete schedule of the first uncrewed flight to the moon. Countdown simulations, fuel replenishment, and additional equipment installation are planned during the final stages or 'wet dress rehearsal' of the lunar mission's preparation.