Artemis launch – live: Nasa won’t commit to new launch date lift-off was scrubbed
Momentous lift off of Atemis 1 mission as Nasa live stream reveals potential issues with core stage
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The launch Nasa’s Artemis 1 mission scheduled for Monday morning has been scrubbed due to issues with one of the Moon rocket’s engines.
Lift off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida was set for 08.33 local time (13.33 BST) on Monday, 29 August. The next launch window for Artemis I opens 2 September, with a second back up window opening 5 September.
As of Monday afternoon, Nasa officials said the space agency needs more time to assess the problems encountered during Monday’s launch before they can decide on a new launch date, but for now they are keeping the rocket on the pad and in a configuration that could allow a launch on Friday.
Weather conditions were favourable for launch Monday, despite some concerning lightning strikes over the weekend, and weather was not a direct cause for the scrub.
Artemis 1 is the first flight for Nasa’s fiant Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule, serving as a crucial test for making sure all the related systems function properly in space ahead of the first humans climbing aboard Artemis 2 in 2023.
You can follow all the latest news and updates in our live blog below, and watch a live stream of the Artemis 1 rocket launch from Nasa TV at the top of this page.
Artemis 1 launch
Both H2 and O2 tanks nearly completely filled, Nasa says.
The liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks – the largest tanks part of any rocket – are filling fast towards completion, the space agency noted in a broadcast.
“You will see vapour coming that’s because both tanks are boiling and that’s normal. You can see good flow coming from the vent at the top,” Nasa said.
Artemis 1 launch
Nasa’s Artemis Moon program is about to change the future of humanity in space, writes The Independent’s Jon Kelvey in a wide-ranging feature about today’s mission.
As the countdown approaches 150 minutes, it offers a reminder of the significance of today’s launch.
For starters, it will be the biggest rocket ever launched, pulling 39.1 meganewtons of thrust. That’s 15 per cent more than the Saturn V rockets used during the Apollo missions to the Moon.
You can read the full story here:
Nasa’s Artemis launch is about to change the future of humanity in space
If Nasa’s plans to launch the biggest rocket the world has ever seen feel like a secret, they won’t stay that way for long
Artemis 1 launch
The issues with filling the core stages have been sorted, however it looks like there will be a delay to the scheduled 08.33 (13.33 BST) launch time.
“We’re in really great shape,” says Nasa’s launch director, adding that the lift off time will be set once they reach T-minus 10 minutes on the countdown. At this point, the launch will be put on hold until everything is in place for the final coundown to begin. Luckily, the launch window allows for some flexibility.
“We’ve got quite a bit of work left,” Nasa’s launch director says. “We need to evaluate once we get there.”
Artemis 1 launch
It’s just past 6am in Florida, meaning there’s just two hours left until the scheduled launch of the SLS rocket system for the Artemis 1 mission.
The launch team is continuing to progress through its system setups. Currently we’re in the engine bleed phase of the countdown, with Nasa saying that the actual time for the launch remains “dynamic” as they continue to calculate the impact of the delays caused by the earlier issues with the filling up of the core stages.
Artemis 1 launch
It seems that issues remain with the bleed flow in engine No. 3.
Nasa’s launch team are currently troubleshooting the problem, as well as an ongoing issue with the communications link between the Orion spacecraft and the ground team.
If either of these are not resolved, that would mean today’s launch would have to be postponed, with backup launch windows currently in place for 2 and 5 September.
Nasa still has a couple of hours left to get them sorted for today, so fingers crossed.
Artemis 1 launch
There appears to be another issue with the Space Launch System, which coud result in further delays or even a postponement of the launch.
Nasa’s launch team has reported a line of frost on the core stage tank of the SLS, which is currently under evaluation.
Countdown is still set for 08.33 local time (13.33 BST) but Nasa’s Artemis launch control says that “it’s largely anticipated that that’s going to be slipping.”
Artemis 1 launch
The sun is rising over the Atlantic as the countdown for the launch of the Artemis 1 mission continues at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
You can see liquid oxygen venting from the top and bottom of the rocket, as well as hydrogen gas burning off from a flare stack on the left of the image.
Troubleshooting continues with the bleed on engine No.3, which is struggling to get to the proper temperature.
Artemis 1 launch
Nasa has delayed its broadcast for today’s launch, meaning the actual lift-off time will almost certainly be pushed back.
Operational commentary continues to give the latest updates on the troubleshooting currently underway, with no word yet about what time the actual launch will take place.
“Teams are working to increase pressure in the bleed on engine 3 to continue conditioning the four RS-25 engines on [the Space Launch System] for launch,” Nasa tweeted.
Artemis 1 launch
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest status of the Artemis 1 launch:
- The engine bleed issue continues to be the main factor delaying the launch, and teams on the ground are in the process of troubleshooting it.
- The current countdown is being held at T-minus 40 minutes, with another scheduled hold set to take place at the 10-minute mark. It’s at this point that Nasa will announce a new launch time.
- There is a two hour launch window, so there is hopefully enough time for the issues to be resolved and for lift-off to take place today.
- If the issues can’t be resolved, there are backup launch windows for 2 and 5 September, 2022.
Artemis 1 launch
The two hour launch window for the SLS lift-off today opens in 45 minutes.
The countdown remains on hold, which means if we do get a launch today it will likely be towards the end of the window.
On the plus side, the weather at the launch site in Florida looks good, so if the issue can be resolved then there will hopefully be no further disruptions.
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