NASA has delayed the launch of its Artemis II mission to the Moon because of bad weather in Florida. The space agency said the weather is unsafe, so the launch cannot happen now.
The mission was first planned for February 6. NASA is now looking at February 8 as the earliest new launch date. However, the final date will depend on the weather and other safety checks.
Officials said the area is facing very cold temperatures and strong winds because of a rare Arctic weather system. These conditions can affect the rocket and make the launch dangerous.
Before the launch, NASA will do a “wet dress rehearsal” on February 2. In this test, the rocket will be filled with fuel and all systems will be checked, but it will not take off. This helps engineers make sure everything is working correctly.
Artemis II will be NASA’s first mission to send astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis program. The trip will last about 10 days and will carry four astronauts. They will fly around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft and test equipment needed for future space missions.
The astronauts will not land on the Moon. The main goal is to test the spacecraft and other systems before future missions that may include a landing.
NASA said safety is its top concern and it will only launch when conditions are safe.