The United Launch Alliance (ULA) mission that will transport a lunar module and DNA samples from former presidents and actors from the television series Star Trek has been postponed until January 8, the space agency reported this Friday.
The launch of the maiden voyage of ULA’s new range of rockets, Vulcan Centaur, was scheduled for the early hours of December 24 in Florida, but the agency decided to postpone it after a fuel loading test carried out a few days ago.
The launch dress rehearsal, known as the ‘wet dress rehearsal’, took place last weekend and ran longer than planned, so it could not be completed, requiring a second rehearsal on Tuesday, which was ” a success,” according to a statement. issued today by the agency.
After this second test, the inaugural flight of the Vulcan Centaur will take off on January 8 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida, at a time yet to be determined.
The success of the mission will mean the official certification of these rockets, the new and most powerful range of ULA, which debuts with a transport trip of the Peregrine lunar module, from the Astrobotic company, within which NASA scientific experiments will be transported and research institutions. .seven countries.
When it reaches the Moon, Peregrine will be the first North American module to reach its surface in 50 years.
The mission will also carry ashes and DNA samples of celebrities and notable figures, including hair identified as belonging to former US presidents George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, according to Celestis, a company specializing in space memorials.
Also traveling in the module are some remains and DNA samples of other ‘passengers’ such as Gene Roddenberry and his wife Majel, creators of Star Trek, as well as actors from the iconic series such as Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan, as well as Douglas Trumbull, creator of special effects in films such as ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’.
Source: TSF
