Despite Cost Overruns and Delays, NASA Hopes to Launch Artemis 1 This Year

Hoping to witness the launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket to the moon is – so far – an exercise in frustration for Mark Franko.

“I was hoping to feel the noise and the power and the sound – it would have been pretty interesting to see, I think,” Franko told VOA as he and his friends tried to watch a launch behind a local restaurant not far from Cape Canaveral. But fuel leaks and other issues have twice postponed the most powerful rocket system ever created from taking off.

Despite the delays, Franko’s friend, Mary Jane Patterson, thinks NASA shouldn’t be in a hurry to make the next launch attempt.

“I think that they should bring it back to the building and really check it out completely and then go again. I feel like it was too soon to go off after the first problem, and I think that, whether it was PR [public relations] or whatever, they were trying to push the envelope but at the same time they can’t. I don’t think you can be too cautious,” she said.

“It’s the first time we’ve flown this rocket and this capsule,” noted astronaut Stan Love, who spoke with VOA ahead of the first unsuccessful launch attempt. “There are many, many things that can go wrong. This is a test flight. Don’t get your expectations too high.”

Hoping to witness the launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket to the moon is – so far – an exercise in frustration for Mark Franko.

“I was hoping to feel the noise and the power and the sound – it would have been pretty interesting to see, I think,” Franko told VOA as he and his friends tried to watch a launch behind a local restaurant not far from Cape Canaveral. But fuel leaks and other issues have twice postponed the most powerful rocket system ever created from taking off.

Despite the delays, Franko’s friend, Mary Jane Patterson, thinks NASA shouldn’t be in a hurry to make the next launch attempt.

“I think that they should bring it back to the building and really check it out completely and then go again. I feel like it was too soon to go off after the first problem, and I think that, whether it was PR [public relations] or whatever, they were trying to push the envelope but at the same time they can’t. I don’t think you can be too cautious,” she said.

“It’s the first time we’ve flown this rocket and this capsule,” noted astronaut Stan Love, who spoke with VOA ahead of the first unsuccessful launch attempt. “There are many, many things that can go wrong. This is a test flight. Don’t get your expectations too high.”

Hoping to witness the launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket to the moon is – so far – an exercise in frustration for Mark Franko.

“I was hoping to feel the noise and the power and the sound – it would have been pretty interesting to see, I think,” Franko told VOA as he and his friends tried to watch a launch behind a local restaurant not far from Cape Canaveral. But fuel leaks and other issues have twice postponed the most powerful rocket system ever created from taking off.

Despite the delays, Franko’s friend, Mary Jane Patterson, thinks NASA shouldn’t be in a hurry to make the next launch attempt.

“I think that they should bring it back to the building and really check it out completely and then go again. I feel like it was too soon to go off after the first problem, and I think that, whether it was PR [public relations] or whatever, they were trying to push the envelope but at the same time they can’t. I don’t think you can be too cautious,” she said.

“It’s the first time we’ve flown this rocket and this capsule,” noted astronaut Stan Love, who spoke with VOA ahead of the first unsuccessful launch attempt. “There are many, many things that can go wrong. This is a test flight. Don’t get your expectations too high.”

Source: Voice of America