NASA postpones Artemis I moon launch again due to Tropical Storm Ian

Weather on Earth is slowing NASA’s plans to go to the moon.

NASA’s first moon mission since the Apollo days was postponed again Saturday because of a tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea.

The much-anticipated Artemis I launch has already been pushed back twice, once because of technical issues and once because of a fuel failure.

NASA was hoping to launch Artemis I on Tuesday, but newly named Tropical Storm Ian is expected to be lashing Florida with heavy rains and swirling winds by then. Instead of blasting off for the moon, the rocket may be rolled back into its hangar.

“During a meeting Saturday morning, teams decided to stand down on preparing for the Tuesday launch date to allow them to configure systems for rolling back the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building,” NASA said Saturday in a blog post.

Managers will make a final rollback decision on Sunday. If the rocket is returned to the hangar, it probably won’t launch until November at the earliest.

The rocket can withstand winds of up to 85 mph on the launchpad, but by the time Tropical Storm Ian hits Florida, it’s expected to strengthen into a hurricane with winds stronger than 100 mph.

Artemis I was supposed to launch in late August. If everything goes according to plan, the rocket will send the Orion space capsule into orbit around the moon. No people will be on board the capsule, but it will carry three dummies.

When Artemis does launch, it will be NASA’s first moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. That was the last time humans set foot on the moon.

NASA wants to send people back to the moon in 2025 — assuming Artemis I ever gets off the ground.