NASA declared it’s shooting for a late August launch of its giant, new moon rocket on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing.
NASA is planning to attempt the more than month-long lunar test flight with the help of three mannequins, but no astronauts, at the earliest as Aug. 29.
NASA’s Jim Free stated “our Artemis program to go back to the moon.” The new lunar program is named after Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis in Greek mythology.
While rehearsing repeated launch at the pad, fuel leaks and other technical issues had striked up. The 30-story Space Launch System rocket and connected Orion capsule are at present in the hangar at Kennedy Space Center.
However the NASA officials have reported that the issues have been resolved and that testing is almost done. They further informed that the launch dates might postpone depending on Florida weather and other problems that might arise before the rocket is supposed to return to the pad on Aug. 18.
The rocket and Orion capsule at the height of 322 feet are taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Looking back at history of visit to the moon, astronauts last travelled the moon in 1972. The first of the 12 moonwalkers include Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969, while Michael Collins orbited the moon.
Buzz Aldrin, who’s alive among the three in his tweet mentioned, “Neil, Michael & I were proud to represent America as we took those giant leaps for mankind. It was a moment which united the world and America’s finest hour.”
