NASA said three lightning strikes destroyed tower two, with a lower intensity and a fourth, higher-intensity lightning strike, hit tower one. At that moment, the Orion spacecraft (where the crew will be seated) and the Space Launch System (a giant rocket) ignited on Launch Pad 39B, during a wet dress rehearsal.
The test was discontinued on Sunday 3 April 2022 due to problems with the two towers required to apply positive pressure to an enclosed area within the mobile launcher and keep out harmful gases. Engineers and the mission management team are scheduled to decide whether to resume testing Monday April 4, 2022.
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The wet testing which began April 1 involved a series of pre-launch tests, the team loading the rocket with liquid (“wet”), supercooled fuel, verifying the launch system and “practicing” various countdown scenarios before liftoff.
“The team currently sees no obstacle to resuming the test countdown schedule as planned and will continue with procedures to power the SLS and ICPS boosters overnight,” NASA said.
According to schedule, the actual launch will be one month away. The Artemis program, which will take place in three stages, aims to make a moon landing no earlier than 2025.
Read also; With ambitions to return to the moon, NASA successfully tests rockets for the Artemis mission
Although Artemis I will not carry an actual human, two “female” torsos – nicknamed “Zohar” and “Helga,” by the Israel Space Agency and the German Aerospace Center, will be brought in to help scientists measure radiation levels. Life-sized “male” or “moonikin” mannequins will rise to the commander’s seat.
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