This week, a spokesperson for the space agency said that “NASA is working to launch the Artemis I mission by the end of this year.”
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However, a source said the best-case scenario for launching the Artemis 1 mission is spring next year, with summer being the most realistic target for a test flight of the rocket and Orion spacecraft. The space agency is already about two months behind schedule for testing and integrating the rocket at Kennedy Space Center, and critical pre-flight tests have yet to be completed.
Kathryn Hambleton acknowledged that the space agency has faced issues with its schedules. "The agency continues to monitor the rise in COVID cases in the Kennedy area, which, combined with other factors such as weather, are impacting our schedule," she said. "Progressing step by step, we continue towards launch, keeping our team as safe as possible."
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Earlier this summer, technicians and engineers in Florida completed stacking the SLS rocket, along with its side boosters. A “mass simulator” for Orion was then placed atop the rocket. Currently, NASA and its contractors are working on vibration tests of the assembled rocket, aiming to better understand the difference between the natural vibrations of the full stack versus those caused by external forces. This information will be fed into the flight software.
NASA originally hoped to complete this project in July, but Hambleton confirmed to Ars that this test is currently underway at the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center.
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After this test, the vehicle will be transported back to the vehicle assembly building for final checks and closure. Assuming all goes according to plan, the SLS rocket could launch next spring. However, if there are further delays or new issues are identified, the launch will likely be pushed back to next summer.
Hambleton said NASA plans to provide an update on launch dates soon. But despite the delay and the billions of dollars over budget, the launch of this rocket will be something of a minor miracle.
