NASA announced that it has decided to pause these trials after three attempts to complete the critical fueling test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket it designed for the Lunar mission Artemis I, which is described as the most powerful rocket ever developed. The space agency plans to move the large SLS rocket from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center to the vehicle assembly building in the coming days.
The rocket has undergone many countdown tests since April 1st, but failed all tests. This means sagging for NASA on the Moon mission and many projects whose future depends on this rocket. So, what kind of path does NASA plan to follow at this point? Let’s take a look at the agency’s plans together.
Work on the rocket is expected to cover most of May
Every refueling attempt is related to the rocket, mobile launch tower, or ground systems providing propellant and gas. interrupted by one or more technical problems; In the last test carried out on Thursday, April 14, the loading of 49 percent of the liquid oxygen fuel tank in the core stage and 5 percent of the liquid hydrogen tank was successful.
NASA had hoped to complete this rehearsal test to fix problems with the complex launch system so that the countdown would run smoothly when the rocket actually launches later this year; but the account at home does not seem to fit the market.
In a statement on the subject, NASA notes that its contractors and agency will use the next few weeks to solve problems that arise during the refueling tests of the SLS rocket.
On the other hand, the statement made by the agency does not include any information about the effects of this step back on the program. It looks like it will take about a week to prepare the SLS rocket and return it to the Vehicle Assembly Building, and work on the rocket at this location is likely to take up most of May at least.
So what path can NASA be expected to follow?
After the completion of this stage, some difficult decisions await NASA. Accordingly, the space agency could try to roll the rocket and mobile launch tower a second time onto the ramp and complete the rehearsal test.
Then, following its normal procedure, NASA should return the rocket to the assembly building to activate the “flight safety system” before it rolls onto the launch pad a third time for takeoff. Such a scenario would mean that the earliest date the SLS rocket could be launched would be in August.
Another option NASA may pursue is to launch the project, test it, and if successful, continue and launch the rocket in a few days. Such a scenario would mean NASA could launch the SLS rocket in June or July; however, this would be risky due to the flight safety system.
Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, in his statement on the subject, states that there is a 20-day timetable after the flight security system is installed. Once the system is up and running, it will take up to a week for the final preparations to be made and rolled out in the Vehicle Assembly Building.
This means that until the end of the 20-day period there is only one week left for refueling testing, product recycling and one or two launch attempts. In other words, this means that the test and the launch attempt must be flawless. Of course, in this case, Florida’s weather conditions must be suitable for the situation.
Finally, NASA engineers have to consider a number of other factors, including wear and tear on the rocket, the external exposure of the side-mounted boosters, and the seemingly myriad of hardware-related issues.
However, NASA seems confident that the SLS rocket will survive this ordeal. “I have no doubt that we will finish this testing process and the data will take us to the next step,” said Blackwell-Thompson. There is no doubt about it.” he adds.
11555
