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NASA fuels new moon rocket in week’s 2nd launch attempt
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA started fueling its new moon rocket Saturday for liftoff on a check flight that should go properly earlier than astronauts climb aboard.
For the second time this week, the launch workforce started loading almost 1 million gallons of gasoline into the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket, essentially the most highly effective ever constructed by NASA. Monday’s try was halted by a nasty engine sensor and leaking gasoline.
Because the solar rose, an over-pressure alarm sounded and the tanking operation was briefly halted, however no injury occurred and the trouble resumed, NASA’s Launch Management reported.
NASA needs to ship the crew capsule atop the rocket across the moon, pushing it to the restrict earlier than astronauts get on the subsequent flight. If the five-week demo with check dummies succeeds, astronauts may fly across the moon in 2024 and land on it in 2025. Individuals final walked on the moon 50 years in the past.
Forecasters anticipated usually favorable climate at Kennedy House Heart, particularly towards the tip of the two-hour afternoon launch window.
On the similar time, the rocket’s lead engineers expressed confidence within the tightened-up gasoline strains and process modifications.
On Monday, a sensor indicated one of many 4 engines was too heat, however engineers later verified it really was chilly sufficient. The launch workforce deliberate to disregard the defective sensor this time round and depend on different devices to make sure every most important engine was correctly chilled.
Earlier than igniting, the primary engines have to be as frigid because the liquid hydrogen gasoline flowing into them at minus-420 levels Fahrenheit (minus-250 levels Celsius). If not, the ensuing injury may result in an abrupt engine shutdown and aborted flight.
Mission managers accepted the extra threat posed by the engine difficulty in addition to a separate downside: cracks within the rocket’s insulating foam. However they acknowledged different issues may immediate yet one more delay.
That didn’t cease hundreds from jamming the coast to see the House Launch System rocket soar. Native authorities anticipated large crowds due to the lengthy Labor Day vacation weekend.
The $4.1 billion check flight is step one in NASA’s Artemis program of renewed lunar exploration, named after the dual sister of Apollo in Greek mythology.
Twelve astronauts walked on the moon throughout NASA’s Apollo program, the final time in 1972.
Artemis — years delayed and billions over funds — goals to determine a sustained human presence on the moon, with crews ultimately spending weeks at a time there. It’s thought of a coaching floor for Mars.
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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Training. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.
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The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog visited the Elysee Palace in the French capital, Paris, on Wednesday to meet with President Emmanuel Macron.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Macron did not address media inside the meeting room.
The meeting comes after Macron attended the annual NATO leaders’ summit – taking place this year in The Hague – where the 32 heads of states of the alliance endorsed a proposal to increase defence expenditure from 2% of GDP to 5% by 2035.
The summit took place against a backdrop of global crisis, with Russia’s more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to rage and tensions in the Middle East continue to soar.
Just a few days before the summit, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, marking an end to their 12-days of cross border aerial attacks.
Israel started the war with Iran as it launched a surprise offensive – dubbed ‘Operation Rising Lion’ – where they targeted a slew of Iranian military targets, and most importantly, sought to dismantle their nuclear programme.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Tehran – whose nuclear programme has been rapidly advancing in recent years – would be capable of developing a nuclear warhead within a “very short amount of time”, adding that the country possesses an alarming stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Tensions spiked after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington had directly attacked Iran’s nuclear sites on 21 June. Trump claimed to have “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear project with a series of attacks on its three main facilities of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
The 47th US president said Washington carried out a precise operation involving their top-grade B-2 stealth bombers which unloaded fourteen of the US’ mighty 30,000 pound (13,600 kg) bunker buster bombs.
A report released by the US Defence Intelligence Agency on Tuesday however suggested that Washington’s attacks had only delivered a minor setback in Iran’s nuclear programme, adding that Iran could fully rebuild within months.
The White House has slammed the report as “flat out wrong” and stressed that its findings are a “clear attempt to demean (president) Trump”.
At the summit, Macron told reporters he would discuss his assessment of damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, after the strikes by the US and Israel, with Grossi during the meeting.
In a post on X, the French president reiterated Paris’ commitment to the UN’s nuclear watchdog, as he urged Iran to allow the IAEA to resume its mission in the country. The Iranian parliament had approved a bill recently to suspend all cooperation with the agency.
The pair also reportedly addressed ways to strengthen compliance with international non-proliferation standards.
Grossi thanked the French leader for his continued support in a post on X after Macron reaffirmed his support for IAEA in its efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security worldwide.
Additional sources • AP
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Fresh satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies shows significant damage at three of Iran’s key nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, just days after U.S. B-2 stealth bombers conducted strikes ordered by President Donald Trump.
The new photos, released on June 24, provide the clearest post-strike visuals to date, showing the precision and depth of the U.S. assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
At the heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, located deep beneath a mountain near Qom, satellite views reveal multiple craters along the primary access roads and directly at the entrances to tunnel complexes.
Several perimeter buildings were destroyed outright, and one crater can be seen blasted into the access road leading to the facility.
US STRIKE DAMAGE TO IRAN’S NATANZ, ISFAHAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES CAPTURED IN SATELLITE IMAGES
This satellite image comparison from Maxar Technologies shows a nuclear facility near Fordow, Iran, before and after U.S. airstrikes carried out on June 22, 2025. The strike targeted suspected tunnel entrances associated with Iran’s underground enrichment infrastructure. (Maxar Technologies)
The Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center also shows signs of recent damage. An overview image highlights new destruction at the surface, while detailed shots capture tunnel entrances that appear to have been struck directly, echoing earlier reporting that the operation aimed to neutralize buried infrastructure previously unreachable by conventional air power.
Meanwhile, at Natanz, a site known for its history with the Stuxnet cyberattack and long a target of Israeli and American scrutiny, two craters believed to have been caused by U.S. ordnance now appear filled and covered with dirt.
IRAN’S FORDOW NUCLEAR SITE STRUCK SECOND TIME AS IDF TARGETS ACCESS ROUTES
This June 24, 2025, satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows bomb damage at Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility. The image reveals craters and destruction at a perimeter installation following U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as part of Operation Midnight Hammer. (Maxar Technologies)
These strikes had reportedly targeted the underground centrifuge halls that are central to Iran’s uranium enrichment operations.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that key buildings and underground systems at all three sites were hit.
American officials say Iran’s nuclear program has been severely set back.
Trump has claimed a “very successful” mission.
This pair of satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows buildings near Tehran’s Shahid Rajaee University before and after airstrikes on June 22, 2025. The image at right, captured on June 24, shows widespread destruction believed to be linked to suspected nuclear program facilities. (Maxar Technologies)
In addition to the nuclear sites hit by the U.S., Maxar’s images also documented separate airstrike damage in the capital city of Tehran.
The images show widespread destruction believed to be linked to suspected nuclear program buildings near Tehran’s Shahid Rajaee University.
Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Macron meets IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Paris after NATO summit
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