On Saturday, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began a two-day countdown test ahead of the fueling of its new rocket, a crucial test that will determine when four astronauts will launch on a mission to the moon.
Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew, who are already in quarantine to avoid germs, will be the first people to launch to the moon since 1972.
The 98-meter-long space launch system rocket was transported to the launch pad two weeks ago.
If the fueling test goes well on Monday, NASA may attempt to launch the rocket within a week. The rocket's tank is to be filled with more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel.
A severe cold wave delayed fueling and launch by two days. February 8th became the earliest possible launch date for the rocket.
American and Canadian astronauts will launch aboard the Orion capsule on top of the rocket, on a journey around the moon and then return directly without stopping until landing in the Pacific Ocean, on a mission that will last about 10 days.
NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon during the Apollo program, from 1968 to 1972, with 12 of them walking on its surface.
0 Comments