LEAGUE CITY, Texas — It was hardly the result anyone was hoping for Saturday as the launch of Artemis I was delayed yet again.
“I was really disappointed," said 8-year-old Eleanor who was visiting Space Center Houston with her grandparents for her birthday and was hoping to see Artemis I launch at the center's watch party.
She herself hopes to go to space herself one day.
“I want to be an astronaut or a famous scientist," Eleanor said.
But like so many eagerly waiting around the world, she didn’t get to watch Artemis I lift off after the launch was scrubbed earlier Saturday.
“We understood the hydrogen leaks we had on Monday… those are different than the leak we had the leak today," said NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development James Free.
“We were confident coming into today, but as the administrator said, we’re not going to launch until we’re ready," Free continued.
Despite the second scrubbed launch for humanity’s return to the moon, Space Center Houston COO Mary Baerg says the attention any launch brings to the last frontier is an opportunity to make an early impression and bring people and space closer together.
“This is the Artemis generation. We need that group of kids to be inspired. And there’s so many different roles people can play besides being an astronaut," Baerg said.
Like 11-year-old Ryland who was visiting the space center from San Antonio with his mom and nephew.
“What I want to be when I grow up is somebody who studies the rocks they bring back form the Moon and Mars," said Ryland, who could very well find himself as part of a future mission seeing as the goal of Artemis to lead the way in going further into space than we’ve ever gone before.
And while another delay puts a damper on the day, it’s clear that our curiosity and relentless pursuit have made for a bright tomorrow.
“We don’t know too much about space because it’s so big," said Ryland.
Repair work could push the Artemis I launch to October.
Space Center Houston will hold a watch party when there is a future date for the next launch. They also have a dedicated Artemis exhibit with interactive features that allow people of all ages to learn about space.
For more information, visit their website at www.spacecenter.org.