NASA's next Artemis I mission launch attempt has been penciled in for Monday, Nov. 14.
The agency identified a 69-minute window, starting at 12:07 a.m. ET, for liftoff of the uncrewed flight test, which will send the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth next month.
Initially scheduled for takeoff on Aug. 29, the event was postponed due to an engine bleed issue; a second attempt on Sept. 3 was also canceled after teams were unable to "fix an issue related to a leak in the hardware transferring fuel into the rocket."
After repairing the leak, NASA tipped a possible Sept. 23 or 27 takeoff, but was stymied by Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm that left more than 100 people dead across Cuba, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Third Time's a Charm
NASA confirmed "minimal work" is required to prepare the rocket and spacecraft for its return to Launch Pad 39B at Florida's Kennedy Space Center as early as Friday, Nov. 4. Teams must first perform "standard maintenance" to repair damage to the thermal protection system and recharge or replace batteries on the rocket, several secondary payloads, and the flight termination system.
The agency requested two-hour back-up launch opportunities for Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1:04 a.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:45 a.m. A Nov. 14 takeoff would result in a mission duration of about 25.5 days, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, Dec. 9.
Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test to launch SLS and send Orion around the Moon and back to Earth to test its system before flights with astronauts.