NASA delays first Artemis moonshot with astronauts due to extreme cold at launch site

NASA has delayed astronauts' upcoming travel to the satellite due to the fact that of near-freezing temperatures expected astatine the motorboat site

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has delayed astronauts’ upcoming travel to the satellite due to the fact that of near-freezing temperatures expected astatine the motorboat site.

The archetypal Artemis moonshot with a unit is present targeted for nary earlier than Feb. 8, 2 days aboriginal than planned.

NASA was each acceptable to behaviour a fueling trial of the 322-foot (98-meter) satellite rocket connected Saturday, but called everything disconnected precocious Thursday due to the fact that of the expected cold.

The captious formal rehearsal is present acceptable for Monday, upwind permitting. The alteration leaves NASA with lone 3 days successful February to nonstop 4 astronauts astir the satellite and back, earlier slipping into March.

"Any further delays would effect successful a time for time change," NASA said successful a connection Friday.

Heaters are keeping the Orion capsule lukewarm atop the rocket, officials said, and rocket-purging systems are besides being adapted to the cold.

Commander Reid Wiseman and his unit stay successful quarantine successful Houston and their accomplishment astatine Kennedy Space Center successful Florida is uncertain.

NASA has lone a fistful of days immoderate fixed period to motorboat its archetypal lunar unit successful much than fractional a century. Apollo 17 closed retired that storied satellite exploration programme successful 1972.

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