After service technicians shut down power to the panel, the centers emergency situation responders declared the VAB safe for employees to return to work. There were no reported injuries, and neither the Artemis I rocket nor the spacecraft was at danger.
Cyclone Ian is expected to bring continual tropical storm force winds to Kennedy as early as Wednesday night. After the storm has passed, groups will carry out evaluations to figure out impacts at the center and develop a forward prepare for the next launch attempt, including changing the core stage flight termination system batteries and retesting the system to ensure it can terminate the flight if essential for public security in case of an emergency during launch.
NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher as it returns to the Vehicle Assembly Building from Launch Pad 39B, Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA made the decision to rollback based on the most current weather condition forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian. NASAs Artemis I mission is the very first incorporated test of the companys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems.
NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher as it goes back to the Vehicle Assembly Building from Launch Pad 39B, Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA made the choice to rollback based on the most current weather forecasts related to Hurricane Ian. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first incorporated test of the firms deep area expedition systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
On Monday, NASA Artemis I supervisors decided to roll back the Moon rocket based on the current weather forecasts related to Hurricane Ian not showing enhancing predicted conditions for the Kennedy location in Florida. At 11:21 p.m. EDT that night, the Artemis I Moon rocket left launch pad 39B atop the crawler-transporter ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Ian and started its 4-mile trek to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center.
At approximately 9:15 a.m. EDT on Tuesday morning, NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I objective were secured inside the VAB after finishing the four-mile journey from Launch Pad 39B.
A short time later on, at approximately 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, a fire alarm was triggered in the VAB. The notice came when an arc flash event occurred at a port on an electrical panel in High Bay 3. A trigger arrived at a rope marking the limit of the work area. As the rope started to smolder, workers pulled the alarm, and employees left the structure securely.