The second attempt at the final and crucial pre-launch test for NASA’s Artemis I mission to the moon was canceled on Monday.
The wet test, as NASA calls it, simulates all stages of the launch without the rocket leaving the launch pad.
This includes powering up the 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, loading super-cold propellant into the rocket’s tanks, going through a full countdown simulating launch, resetting the countdown clock and drain the rocket’s tanks.
The test was originally scheduled to conclude on Sunday, but was suspended before the propellant was loaded. This is due to problems with two fans used to provide pressure to the mobile launcher — the mobile turret that the rocket sits on before taking off.
NASA said on Monday it was able to resolve the malfunctioning fans overnight, which are needed to pressurize enclosed areas inside the launcher and keep out hazardous gases.
However, the trial was stopped for the second time on Monday due to a problem with the vent valve, announced NASA via Twitter.
We are “go” for tanking. @NASAKennedy teams will soon begin loading the @NASA_SLS rocket with fuel and conduct leak checks to make sure the tanking is proceeding as expected. follow @NASAGroundSys for real-time updates: https://t.co/vNGEnCnOCv pic.twitter.com/I3ui1QUBgc
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 4, 2022
“Due to the vent valve issue, the launch director canceled the test for the day. The team is getting ready to unload the LOX and will begin discussing how quickly the vehicle can be rolled back for the next attempt. Lots of learning and progress today.”
Sunday’s delay came after the rocket withstood four lightning strikes during a severe storm at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday. However, the problem forced Sunday’s delay does not appear to be linked to the storm, NASA said.
The wet test results will determine when the unmanned Artemis I will launch on a mission beyond the Moon and back to Earth. The unmanned mission is due to launch in June or July.
This mission will kick off NASA’s Artemis program, which is expected to return humans to the Moon and land the first woman and first black person on the lunar surface by 2025.
During the flight, the unmanned Orion spacecraft will launch atop the SLS rocket to reach the moon and travel thousands of kilometers beyond it – farther than any spacecraft intended to transport humans has ever traveled. This mission is expected to last a few weeks and end with Orion crashing into the Pacific Ocean.
Artemis I will be the final proving ground for Orion before the spacecraft takes astronauts to the Moon, a thousand times farther from Earth than where the International Space Station (ISS) is located.
After the unmanned flight of Artemis I, Artemis II will be a manned flyby of the Moon, and Artemis III will return astronauts to the lunar surface. The timeline for subsequent mission launches depends on the results of the Artemis I mission.
Source: CNN Brasil
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
