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17:23
10:24
09:52
11:01
10:52
01:59
17:23
10:24
09:52
11:01
10:52
01:59
17:23
10:24
09:52
11:01
10:52
01:59
NASA said it could take several weeks to fix the fuel leak that derailed the second launch of the Space Launch System lunar rocket.
Earlier, NASA engineers detected a liquid hydrogen leak in one of the rocket’s tanks hours before its launch. They then made three attempts to fix the problem, but were unable to resolve it. As a result, the launch of the SLS rocket for a second time had to be postponed to further assess the situation.
The assessment and repair work could delay the launch of Artemis 1 by at least another two weeks. Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator for exploration systems development, said:
We will not be launching in this launch period.
NASA initially said that if the malfunction is fixed, another attempt to send the SLS system into orbit could be attempted on 6 September.
The next launch window would open on September 16 and close on 4 October. If NASA fails to fix the fuel leak, the Artemis 1 launch could be pushed back to a later date, as the next launch window will be from 17 October to 31 October.