NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket will probably be grounded for at the very least 4 extra days.
NASA had been eyeing Sept. 23 or Sept. 27 for the launch of Artemis 1, which can use a House Launch System (SLS) megarocket to ship an Orion capsule on an uncrewed take a look at flight to lunar orbit. However the company introduced in a weblog submit Monday night (Sept. 12) that the sooner date is not in play; it is now concentrating on Sept. 27 for the Artemis 1 liftoff, with a doable backup date of Oct. 2.
Artemis 1 was speculated to be aloft already. NASA first tried launching the mission on Aug. 29 however was stymied by an anomalous temperature studying in one of many SLS’ first-stage RS-25 engines. The mission crew quickly traced that difficulty to a defective temperature sensor and received the SLS and Orion prepared for one more attempt on Sept. 3. However a leak of liquid hydrogen propellant scuttled that liftoff try as nicely.
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The leak occurred at a “fast disconnect,” an interface linking the SLS core stage with a propellant line coming from the rocket’s cell launch tower. The Artemis 1 crew changed two seals across the fast disconnect final week and wrapped up different restore work associated to the difficulty over the weekend, NASA officers wrote within the replace.
NASA is now gearing up for an SLS fueling take a look at, which can pump supercold propellant into the SLS to point out that the leak has certainly been fastened. The company had been concentrating on Sept. 17 for that take a look at, however it has now been pushed again to no sooner than Sept. 21.
“The up to date dates symbolize cautious consideration of a number of logistical subjects, together with the extra worth of getting extra time to organize for the cryogenic demonstration take a look at, and subsequently extra time to organize for the launch,” NASA officers wrote in Monday’s weblog submit (opens in new tab). “The dates additionally permit managers to make sure groups have sufficient relaxation and to replenish provides of cryogenic propellants.”
The Artemis 1 stack stays at Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy House Heart in Florida, however it could find yourself having to roll again to KSC’s big Automobile Meeting Constructing (VAB). The U.S. House Drive, which oversees the Japanese Vary for rocket launches, licensed Artemis 1’s flight termination system (FTS) for only a 25-day stretch — and that point is already up.
NASA has requested an extension for the certification of the FTS, which is designed to destroy the Artemis 1 stack if it veers off track throughout liftoff. If that request is denied, the automobile should be rolled off Pad 39B to the VAB, the one place the place the testing required for recertification can happen. (Artemis 1 might need to return to the VAB for repairs anyway, if the fixes made on the pad do not find yourself sticking.)
“NASA is constant to respect the Japanese Vary’s course of for evaluate of the company’s request for an extension of the present testing requirement for the flight termination system and is offering further data and information as wanted,” NASA wrote in Monday’s replace. “In parallel, the company is constant preparations for the cryogenic demonstration take a look at and potential launch alternatives, ought to the request be permitted.”
NASA has already obtained one such FTS extension, from 20 days to 25 days.
The 2 upcoming liftoff dates for Artemis 1 are near that of SpaceX’s Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA, which is scheduled to launch towards the Worldwide House Station from KSC’s Pad 39A on Oct. 3.
“Groups are working the upcoming industrial crew launch in parallel to the Artemis 1 planning, and each launch schedules will proceed to be assessed over the approaching weeks,” NASA officers wrote in Monday’s replace.
Mike Wall is the creator of “Out There (opens in new tab)” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a guide concerning the seek for alien life. Observe him on Twitter @michaeldwall (opens in new tab). Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or on Fb (opens in new tab).
