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The great NASA SLS space rocket for the Artemis I mission directed towards the Moon (unmanned) is still on the launch pad ready to perform the tests that will try to assess whether the repairs carried out in these days have served to block the loss of liquid hydrogen from one of the quick release systems. This inconvenience recorded during the attempt on September 3 caused the launch date to be postponed to no earlier than September 27, with a backup date on October 2.
As we wrote earlier, the engineers were faced with two (difficult) choices: to report it Space Launch System inside the VAB for repairs but without the possibility of carrying out leak tests at cryogenic temperatures or leaving the rocket and the capsule exposed to the elements but allowing tests to be carried out with cryogenic propellant. The choice of those responsible was the second. This reduced execution times by not having to move the vector.
NASA SLS and Artemis I: the test will be tomorrow
The test will be held on 21 September (tomorrow) which, as specified above, will not be a real one Wet Dress Reharsal, as happened in recent months. Instead it will be a test with liquid hydrogen and oxygen flowing inside the tanks to check if the systems quick disconnect they are actually repaired as expected. Based on the result of this test we will know if the Artemis I mission you can try to leave by the first part of October.
In the official blog we read that during the analysis of the system it has had a leak, blocking the launch from NASA SLSthere was one “small recess” in the 20 cm gasket. This part of the system quick disconnect it serves to load the propellant and may have been the cause of the leak detected on September 3.
There should now have been a complete replacement of the various physical interfaces (both the launch tower and the rocket) to ensure that this problem can no longer occur. The procedures for loading the propellant have also been updated and part of the management software of the ground crews has been modified, which should guarantee the success of both the test and the launch (barring new unforeseen events).
In particular, it was planned to fill the tanks di NASA SLS at lower pressures. This caution should avoid excessive loads on the piping and connection system so as to avoid leaks (also reducing rapid temperature changes). In the new procedures that will be tested during tomorrow’s test, it is expected that there will be slow filling first, then moving on to the rapid one and at the same time as the latter there will also be the conditioning of the RS-25 engines. Once the tanks are filled there will be a pressure test (simulating that of the moment just before launch) and at that point more liquid hydrogen will be sent to the engines.
The load of propellants for NASA SLS it should take place starting from 13:00 tomorrow (Italian time) and should end around 21:00. All timings are subject to change based on weather conditions (currently favorable) or if new problems will be encountered. As specified by the agency, the test will include the loading of the propellant in both the main stage (Core Stage) and the ICPS (upper stage). Instead Orion and solid-state propellant boosters will be deactivated.
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