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NASA ‘Encouraged’ by Tanking Test for SLS Moon Rocket, but Launch Plan is Still in Flux

Accepted submission by upstart at 2022-09-22 16:42:38
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NASA ‘encouraged’ by tanking test for SLS moon rocket, but launch plan is still in flux [geekwire.com]:

NASA says it achieved all its objectives during today’s launch-pad rehearsal for fueling up its giant Space Launch System rocket for an uncrewed round-the-moon mission known as Artemis 1 — but will have to review the data, check the weather and get final approvals before going ahead with plans for a liftoff next Tuesday.

The test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida was meant to verify that hydrogen fuel leaks encountered during the past month’s launch [geekwire.com]attempts [geekwire.com] were fixed. A hydrogen leak did crop up today during the process of filling the SLS rocket’s tanks with super-cooled propellants. “Engineers were able to troubleshoot the issue and proceed with the planned activities,” NASA said afterward [nasa.gov].

In the wake of the earlier launch scrubs, engineers replaced the suspect seals in the fueling system. Mission managers also changed the fuel-loading procedure to take what they called a “kinder, gentler” approach — and they relaxed their rules for today’s test. Concentrations of hydrogen in the air surrounding the rocket were allowed to exceed the 4% limit that was previously in place. NASA launch commentator Derrol Nail said that the leak rate surpassed 5% at one point, but tapered back down to less than 4%.

“If we were in terminal count, which is what this was testing, it would have been a violation and stopped the count,” Nail explained during today’s webcast. “But for the ground rules that were set for today, they were within those.”

Nail said the launch team “is looking forward to getting back that data and taking a close look at it.”

Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson put a positive spin on the test’s outcome. “All of the objectives that we set out to do, we were able to accomplish today,” she said.

Blackwell-Thompson said mission managers will assess the data as part of the process of determining whether to go forward with the scheduled launch attempt on Sept. 27. “I am extremely encouraged by the test today,” she said.

A couple of other factors could affect the schedule. The scheduling procedures currently in place would require bringing the rocket back to NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building to switch out batteries in the flight termination system, but NASA is seeking a waiver from the U.S. Space Force, which manages the Eastern Range.

Weather is also a potential concern: A tropical disturbance known as Invest 98L [wesh.com] is currently forming in the Atlantic Ocean and could bring strong storms to Florida next week. If NASA had to pass up the Sept. 27 opportunity due to weather, the next chance for launch would come on Oct. 2.

The inaugural launch of the Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever built for NASA, is just the beginning of NASA’s Artemis 1 mission. The SLS will send an uncrewed Orion capsule on a looping, weeks-long trip around the moon and back. Sensors hooked up to three mannequins will collect data about radiation exposure, temperature and other environmental factors.

Orion will also be carrying an experimental Alexa-style voice assistant [geekwire.com] — created by Amazon in partnership with NASA, Lockheed Martin and Cisco — that could be used on future crewed missions.

If Artemis 1 is successful, that would set the stage for a crewed round-the-moon mission known as Artemis 2 in 2024, and then an Artemis 3 moon landing that could happen as early as 2025.

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NASA announces a challenging schedule for inaugural launch of its SLS moon rocket [geekwire.com]

Find out how to watch NASA’s mammoth moon rocket lift off, and why it’s a big deal [geekwire.com]

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NASA says it achieved all its objectives during today’s launch-pad rehearsal for fueling up its giant Space Launch System rocket for an uncrewed round-the-moon mission known as Artemis 1 — but will have to review the data, check the weather and get final approvals before going ahead with plans for a liftoff next Tuesday.

The test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida was meant to verify that hydrogen fuel leaks encountered during the past month’s launch [geekwire.com]attempts [geekwire.com] were fixed. A hydrogen leak did crop up today during the process of filling the SLS rocket’s tanks with super-cooled propellants. “Engineers were able to troubleshoot the issue and proceed with the planned activities,” NASA said afterward [nasa.gov].

In the wake of the earlier launch scrubs, engineers replaced the suspect seals in the fueling system. Mission managers also changed the fuel-loading procedure to take what they called a “kinder, gentler” approach — and they relaxed their rules for today’s test. Concentrations of hydrogen in the air surrounding the rocket were allowed to exceed the 4% limit that was previously in place. NASA launch commentator Derrol Nail said that the leak rate surpassed 5% at one point, but tapered back down to less than 4%.

“If we were in terminal count, which is what this was testing, it would have been a violation and stopped the count,” Nail explained during today’s webcast. “But for the ground rules that were set for today, they were within those.”

Nail said the launch team “is looking forward to getting back that data and taking a close look at it.”

Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson put a positive spin on the test’s outcome. “All of the objectives that we set out to do, we were able to accomplish today,” she said.

Blackwell-Thompson said mission managers will assess the data as part of the process of determining whether to go forward with the scheduled launch attempt on Sept. 27. “I am extremely encouraged by the test today,” she said.

A couple of other factors could affect the schedule. The scheduling procedures currently in place would require bringing the rocket back to NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building to switch out batteries in the flight termination system, but NASA is seeking a waiver from the U.S. Space Force, which manages the Eastern Range.

Weather is also a potential concern: A tropical disturbance known as Invest 98L [wesh.com] is currently forming in the Atlantic Ocean and could bring strong storms to Florida next week. If NASA had to pass up the Sept. 27 opportunity due to weather, the next chance for launch would come on Oct. 2.

The inaugural launch of the Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever built for NASA, is just the beginning of NASA’s Artemis 1 mission. The SLS will send an uncrewed Orion capsule on a looping, weeks-long trip around the moon and back. Sensors hooked up to three mannequins will collect data about radiation exposure, temperature and other environmental factors.

Orion will also be carrying an experimental Alexa-style voice assistant [geekwire.com] — created by Amazon in partnership with NASA, Lockheed Martin and Cisco — that could be used on future crewed missions.

If Artemis 1 is successful, that would set the stage for a crewed round-the-moon mission known as Artemis 2 in 2024, and then an Artemis 3 moon landing that could happen as early as 2025.

GeekWire Newsletters

Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Email addressSubscribeGeekWire Daily - Top headlines daily GeekWire Weekly - Most-read stories of the week, delivered Sunday Breaking News Alerts - Important news as it happens GeekWire Startups - News, analysis, insights from the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem, delivered Friday GeekWire Mid-week Update — Most-read stories so far this week, delivered Wednesday GeekWire Local Deals — Special offers for Pacific Northwest area readers Send Us a Tip

Have a scoop that you'd like GeekWire to cover? Let us know.

Send Us a Tip [geekwire.com]See More [geekwire.com]GeekWire Events

NASA scrubs second try to launch moon rocket due to persistent hydrogen leak [geekwire.com]

NASA reschedules moon rocket’s launch for Saturday as it checks data from first try [geekwire.com]

NASA announces a challenging schedule for inaugural launch of its SLS moon rocket [geekwire.com]

Find out how to watch NASA’s mammoth moon rocket lift off, and why it’s a big deal [geekwire.com]

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headlineEmail addressSubscribeGeekWire Daily - Top headlines daily GeekWire Weekly - Most-read stories of the week, delivered Sunday Breaking News Alerts - Important news as it happens GeekWire Startups - News, analysis, insights from the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem, delivered Friday GeekWire Mid-week Update — Most-read stories so far this week, delivered Wednesday GeekWire Local Deals — Special offers for Pacific Northwest area readers

Software Engineer III (Front end) [geekwire.com]MedBridgeWeb Developer & UX Strategist [geekwire.com]United Way of King CountySenior Frontend Engineer [geekwire.com]INRIXWeb Analyst [geekwire.com]San Jose State UniversityComputer Science Support Group Manager [geekwire.com]Western Washington University - Computer Science DepartmentSoftware Engineer III (Back end) [geekwire.com]MedBridgeFind more jobs on GeekWork [geekwire.com]. Employers, post a job here [geekwire.com].About

Follow

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Catch every headline in your inbox

Email addressSubscribeGeekWire Daily - Top headlines daily GeekWire Weekly - Most-read stories of the week, delivered Sunday Breaking News Alerts - Important news as it happens GeekWire Startups - News, analysis, insights from the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem, delivered Friday GeekWire Mid-week Update — Most-read stories so far this week, delivered Wednesday GeekWire Local Deals — Special offers for Pacific Northwest area readers Read GeekWire

Return to Top of PagePrivacy Policy [geekwire.com] | Terms of Use [geekwire.com]© 2011-2022 GeekWire, LLC×Get smart with GeekWire. Sign up for our new daily newsletter. Sign UpDo not show again.

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