FLORIDA – After a successful refueling test, NASA hope launch mission to the moon Artemis 1 could be launched at the end of August. Currently, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket coated with the Orion capsule is undergoing repair and preparation at NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on July 1, 2022.
Artemis 1, the first launch for SLS, will send the unmanned Orion on a mission of about a month around the moon. The mission has suffered several delays, and most recently the rocket’s certification to fly has been held back by incomplete refueling tests.
The Artemis 1 mission was first rolled out from the VAB to KSC’s Pad 39B in mid-March, in preparation for wetwear training starting on April 1, 2022. However three separate attempts to fill the SLS with cryogenic propellant during that attempt failed, and sent back to the VAB for repairs. on April 25.
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The latest refueling trial, which finished on Monday (June 20), didn’t go perfectly, but NASA thinks it’s good enough to continue preparations for launch. Operators were able to fully refuel the SLS for the first time, taking the launch simulation further than any attempt in April.
A leak from the “umbilical” line of the core stage engine cooling system was detected during the day’s refueling test. However, the mission manager determined that the deviation did not pose a safety risk and proceeded with a simulated terminal count.
“At this point, we have determined that we have successfully completed the evaluation and the necessary work we wanted to complete for the rehearsal,” said Tom Whitmeyer, deputy associate administrator for Common Exploration Systems at NASA headquarters. Monday (27/6/2022).
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There is also one more test technician that needs to be done on the pad, namely hot-firing the hydraulic power unit (HBU), part of the SLS solid rocket booster. It was originally part of the countdown wet dress but was omitted when the countdown was cancelled.
The test will be completed by Saturday (June 25. Following the hot fire test, operators will then spend the weekend disassembling the HBU hydrazine fuel).
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