321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week

John McCarthy, Florida Today
·1 min read
The members of SpaceX Crew-5 (from left) Mission commander Nicole Mann, Anna Kikina Josh Cassada and Koichi Wakata wave to the cameras after arrival at Kennedy Space Center Saturday, October 1, 2022. They are scheduled to launch Oct. 5 on a mission to the International Space Station. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
The members of SpaceX Crew-5 (from left) Mission commander Nicole Mann, Anna Kikina Josh Cassada and Koichi Wakata wave to the cameras after arrival at Kennedy Space Center Saturday, October 1, 2022. They are scheduled to launch Oct. 5 on a mission to the International Space Station. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

Busy week for launches on the Space Coast now that Ian has left

Now that Hurricane Ian has passed largely sparing the area, the Space Coast will be busy catching up on launches this week.

If the current schedule holds, there will be launches Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

First up, United Launch Alliance with an Atlas V mission to carry to communications satellite for the European company SES. That launch is set for 5:36 p.m. Tuesday from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Forces Station.

Wednesday, SpaceX is set to launch a crew of four to the International Space Station.

The mission, the fifth under a contract with NASA will carry to two American astronauts, a representative for Japan's space agency and a Russian cosmonaut.

The launch is set for noon Wednesday from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

The last launch of the week is set for Thursday evening. That mission features SpaceX launching two commercial communications satellites.

Artemis I now set for November

NASA’s giant moon rocket Artemis I is rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building early Tuesday, September, 27, 2002 to protect it from Hurricane Ian. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
NASA’s giant moon rocket Artemis I is rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building early Tuesday, September, 27, 2002 to protect it from Hurricane Ian. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

NASA officials were hoping to get the Artemis I moon mission of the pad before Hurricane Ian approached, but ultimately made the decision to roll the giant SLS moon rocket back to the VAB when it appeared that Ian would wallop the Space Coast.

NASA is now looking to November to launch the uncrewed mission to the moon and back.

"There was no damage to Artemis flight hardware, and facilities are in good shape with only minor water intrusion identified in a few locations," NASA said Friday. "As teams complete post-storm recovery operations, NASA has determined it will focus Artemis I launch planning efforts on the launch period that opens Nov. 12 and closes Nov. 27."

A 25+ year veteran of FLORIDA TODAY, John McCarthy currently oversees the space team and special projects. Support quality local journalism by subscribing to FLORIDA TODAY. You can contact McCarthy at 321-752-5018 or jmccarthy@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week