NASA takes second shot at launching Artemis rocket, aims to resume lunar trips after 50 years

Americans last set foot on the moon in 1972 as part of the Apollo 17 mission

By Ben Whedon

Published: September 2, 2022 6:06pm

Updated: September 3, 2022 6:43am

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will make a second attempt to launch its Artemis rocket on Saturday, the first step in a program that aims to return humans to the moon for you the first time since Richard Nixon was president.

Initially scheduled for Monday, the launch will send an unmanned Orion capsule on a 42-day voyage around the moon. Should the mission succeed, a second launch will send a live crew to repeat the operation before then attempting a lunar landing sometime in 2025 or 2026. Americans last set foot on the moon in 1972 as part of the Apollo 17 mission.

Live Now: @NASAArtemis leaders provide a launch and weather update for the #Artemis I flight test around the Moon, set for no earlier than Sept. 3, 2:17 p.m. EDT (18:17 UTC). https://t.co/1eEyQdQVCt

— NASA (@NASA) September 2, 2022

NASA was forced to cancel the Monday launch due to bad weather and a technical problem known as "engine bleed" which relates to engine temperatures. It subsequently rescheduled the launch for Saturday.