NASA plans to launch its lunar rocket for the fourth time on November 14. This failed in the past.
The missile was supposed to be launched at the end of September from the Cape Canaveral launch site in the US state of Florida. But this did not happen because of the hurricane.
The first launch attempt also failed because it failed to bring one of the four rocket engines up to the proper temperature. Prior to the second attempt, NASA detected a leak while filling the fuel tank with liquid hydrogen.
In a few years, for the first time since 1972, the United States wants to bring humans to the moon and back again. As an exercise, the spacecraft without people on board has to make the difficult crossing. This mission is called Artemis I.
The spacecraft is scheduled to fly toward the moon in about a month and a half. Then it revolves around it for several orbits, after which it returns to Earth. Hanging from parachutes, the trip should end with a drizzle in the Pacific Ocean.
The SLS is the most powerful rocket ever built and was specifically developed for the Artemis lunar program. At the top of this launcher is Orion, the new craft that must go to the moon and back. The rear, which provides power and propulsion, was developed by Europe. The solar panels that generate electricity come from Leiden.
