International
NASA Moon rocket launch delayed again, this time by storm
| By AFP |
NASA again rescheduled its long-delayed uncrewed mission to the Moon on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Nicole churned toward the east coast of Florida, officials said.
A launch attempt, which had been scheduled for November 14, will now take place on November 16, Jim Free, a senior official at the US space agency, said on Twitter.
It is the third delay of the highly-anticipated launch in as many months.
“Our people are the most important aspect of our mission,” wrote Free, who is NASA’s Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development. “Adjusting our target launch date for #Artemis I prioritizes employee safety and allows our team to tend to the needs of their families and homes.”
The Atlantic Ocean storm was expected to develop into a hurricane Wednesday near the Bahamas, before making landfall in Florida either later that evening or early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.
A hurricane warning has been issued near the Kennedy Space Center, where the rocket — NASA’s most powerful ever — is to blast off.
With Nicole gaining strength, “NASA… has decided to re-target a launch for the Artemis I mission for Wednesday, Nov. 16, pending safe conditions for employees to return to work, as well as inspections after the storm has passed,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday evening.
NASA added that a launch occurring during a two-hour window that opens at 1:04 am EST (0604 GMT) on November 16 would result in a splashdown on Friday, Dec. 11.
A back-up launch date has been set for November 19.
NASA said it would leave the giant SLS rocket on the launch pad, where it had been placed several days before.
After two launch attempts were scrubbed this summer because of technical problems, the rocket had to be returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building to protect it from Hurricane Ian.
Last week, the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket was rolled back out on a giant platform known as the crawler-transporter designed to minimize vibrations.
Earlier Tuesday, Nicole was packing sustained winds near 65 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) with higher gusts and was expected to strengthen even further, according to the NHC.
Some experts have voiced concern that the rocket, which is estimated to cost several billion dollars, could be damaged by debris from the hurricane if it remains exposed.
“As far as staying at the pad, we want to see peak winds less than 74.1 knots, and that’s kind of the key requirement that we’re tracking,” said chief rocket engineer John Blevins.
The SLS rocket is designed to withstand 85 mile-per-hour (74.4-knot) winds at the 60-foot level with structural margin, NASA said. It is designed to also withstand heavy rains at the launch pad and the spacecraft hatches have been secured to prevent water intrusion.
The uncrewed mission, dubbed Artemis 1, will bring the United States a step closer to returning astronauts to the Moon five decades after humans last walked on the lunar surface.
The goal of Artemis 1, named after the twin sister of Apollo, is to test the SLS rocket and Orion crew capsule that sits on top.
Mannequins are standing in for astronauts on the mission and will record acceleration, vibration, and radiation levels.
International
Dina Boluarte avoids prosecution again as lawmakers dismiss sixth complaint
A congressional committee in Peru dismissed yet another constitutional complaint against President Dina Boluarte on Friday, blocking a potential investigation into her alleged responsibility for the deaths that occurred during the 2022 protests following her rise to power after the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo.
This marks the sixth time that Congress — with the support of allied parties — has halted legal efforts to hold Boluarte accountable. In June, lawmakers shelved three similar complaints filed by members of the small opposition bloc. Two other complaints had already been dismissed in 2023 and 2024.
Almost immediately after taking office in December 2022 — following Castillo’s removal after he attempted to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment — Boluarte faced a wave of protests in southern Peru. These demonstrations resulted in the deaths of 50 civilians. According to autopsy reports, over half of the victims were killed by gunfire.
International
Families hold vigil in Caracas, demand release of political prisoners
Dozens of people held a vigil outside the Attorney General’s Office in Caracas on Wednesday, calling for the release of political prisoners—one day after Amnesty International (AI) reported a “surge” in enforced disappearances following Venezuela’s presidential elections nearly a year ago.
In 2024, protests erupted after President Nicolás Maduro’s controversial re-election on July 28, amid widespread allegations of fraud. Official figures reported 27 deaths and 2,400 arrests during the unrest.
With balloons, prayers, candles, and photos, families of the detainees demanded a review of the cases—some still under trial—and called for their release, as has occurred with about 1,900 previously detained individuals. Prosecutors have promised to meet with families next Tuesday.
“We need to keep the pressure on (…) and get a more concrete and secure response, because if there is no answer by Tuesday, we will gather again,” said Sorangel Arguinzones, whose 25-year-old son Jesús Jiménez was arrested in Mérida (west) 11 months ago. He is being held in Tocorón prison, one of the facilities designated for protesters, and is accused of “terrorism.” Jiménez, a former scientific police officer, is described by his mother as innocent.
“We have to stay in prayer and ask for our boys’ freedom (…) it’s been almost a year now,” added Karina Martínez, whose brother Daniel has been detained since January, following Maduro’s swearing-in.
“My brother says: I’ve never been involved in politics,” she said.
Maduro was declared re-elected by the pro-government electoral authority without presenting the detailed vote count, as required by law.
In its report released Tuesday, Amnesty International warned of a “surge” in enforced disappearances over the past year. Of the 15 cases recorded, 11 people remain missing with their whereabouts and conditions still unknown.
International
Drug bust highlights Mexico’s efforts amid U.S. pressure on cartels
Mexican marines seized half a ton of cocaine off the coast of the southern state of Oaxaca and arrested four people transporting it on a boat, authorities reported Wednesday.
The Mexican government has increased drug seizures and arrests amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to curb the flow of illicit substances into the United States, especially the deadly fentanyl.
The Secretariat of Public Security said in a statement that the drugs, packed in 14 bundles, were confiscated during a maritime surveillance operation, although the exact date was not disclosed. The shipment was valued at 130 million pesos (about 6.9 million dollars).
Since October 1, 2024, when President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, 45 tons of cocaine have been seized at sea, the Secretariat indicated.
On July 12, Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on Mexico starting August 1, accusing the country of failing to stop cartels “that try to turn all of North America into a drug trafficking playground.”
Dina Boluarte avoids prosecution again as lawmakers dismiss sixth complaint
Families hold vigil in Caracas, demand release of political prisoners
Drug bust highlights Mexico’s efforts amid U.S. pressure on cartels
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