Brevard County

Brevard County businesses hope for another boost from next Artemis I launch attempt

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA is working to set a new timeline for its third launch attempt of the Artemis I mission.

An estimated 400,000 visitors flocked to the Space Coast hoping to see the rocket launch Saturday, but many of them either headed home early or looked to make the most out of what they saw as a less than ideal situation.

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NASA scientists tried three times to troubleshoot a fuel leak that kept the rocket grounded, but when those attempts failed, they scrubbed the launch of the SLS moon rocket through early September.

The rocket now needs to get rolled back to the vehicle assembly building for further testing and a battery reset.

Read: NASA scrubs 2nd attempt to launch Artemis I moon rocket

NASA is set to update the launch’s timeline later this week, but the last update said the next attempt will likely be in October.

Business owner Barbara Bumgardener said the delay could benefit small businesses in Brevard County.

She said the combo of Labor Day tourists and more people in town for the launch meant business was booming for her Cocoa Village clothing shop, Barefoot Designs.

Read: Spectators camp out for historic Artemis I launch

An October attempt, she said, could bring more visitors back in the fall.

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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