--- title: "NASA Says It’s Fine That Some Pieces May Have Fallen Off Its Moon Rocket During Launch" description: "Cracking Up It appears that some pieces may have fallen off of NASA's Artemis moon rocket — though according to spokespeople, it ain't really no thang. As multiple professional space-watching Twitter users noted, at least two NASA officials commented on the possible \"debris liberation\" of pieces from the second go at launching the Artemis rocket. […]" date: "2022-11-16" modified: "2022-11-16" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-artemis-rocket-pieces" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "artemis" - "NASA" - "sls" - "the digest" --- # NASA Says It’s Fine That Some Pieces May Have Fallen Off Its Moon Rocket During Launch ![]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Cracking Up It appears that some pieces may have fallen off of NASA's Space Launch System as it propelled the first Artemis mission [toward the M]()[oon last night]() — and though it's always funny when a [piece falls off something very expensive](), spokespeople at NASA say it's not a big deal. At least two NASA officials commented on the possible "debris liberation" of pieces from the rocket. In English, that translates to "pieces flying off the [uber-expensive]() and [overdue rocket]()." "NASA's \[TV host Derrol\] Nail says the launch team has been studying a new issue: The 'possible liberation' of the RTV material (a type of caulk)," *CNBC* space reporter [Michael Sheetz tweeted]() just before the successful Artemis launch. "There is a sensor that 'is loose' and 'is likely to come after launch.'" ## Fret Not In spite of how serious that sounds, Sheetz added that NASA assessed the situation and found that it wasn't too bad. "Debris trajectory analysis found 'no additional risk,'" the reporter tweeted, and noted that [Nail went on to claim]() that the sensor connected with RTV caulking "was just removed," whatever that means. "Assuming the RTV comes loose," Sheetz continued, "it's expected to hit a 'rigid structure' of the cone shaped adapter between Orion and the ICPS that can 'withstand the impact.'" This potential "debris liberation" appears to have been confirmed by Artemis mission manager Michael Sarafin, who per *SpacePolicyOnline*'s Marcia Smith said that "there was some indication we had debris liberation early in ascent," but that it's nevertheless "too early to say for sure." It is indeed too soon to tell whether stuff flew off of NASA's long overdue and very expensive Moon rocket — but if it did, the agency assures the public that it really isn't a big deal at all. **More on Artemis:** *[Amazing Video Shows Artemis I Leaving Earth Behind]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()