Artemis I Moon Rocket to Return to Launch Pad 39B in Early June 

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are slated to return to launch pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early June for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt.    

Engineers successfully completed work on a number of items observed during the previous wet dress rehearsal test. This includes addressing the liquid hydrogen system leak at the tail service mast umbilical, replacing the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) gaseous helium system check valve and support hardware, modifying the ICPS umbilical purge boots, and confirming there are no impacts to Orion as a result of storms and subsequent water intrusion at the launch pad.  The team also updated software to address issues encountered during core stage tanking of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during previous rehearsal attempts.  

The purge boots are not flight hardware, but enclose an area around the ICPS umbilical – the connection between the mobile launcher and the upper stage – to protect it from the natural environment during propellant loading.  

Meanwhile the contractor for gaseous nitrogen has completed their repairs to the distribution system that will be used to support the Artemis testing and launch campaign. The repairs and tests ensured the system is ready to support tanking operations. During wet dress rehearsal and launch, teams use gaseous nitrogen to purge the rocket including its umbilical plates and to support other operations.     

Engineers also are completing some of the forward work originally scheduled to take place in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after wet dress rehearsal. This includes opening the Orion crew module hatch and installing some payloads, such as hardware elements for the Callisto technology demonstration, a flight kit locker, and container assemblies for a space biology experiment.  

Following completion of a few remaining verifications, teams will retract platforms inside the VAB to prepare SLS and Orion to roll out to pad 39B. Plans call for the next wet dress rehearsal to take place about 14 days after the rocket arrives at the pad.  

Artemis I WDR Update: Core Stage Liquid Oxygen Propellant Loading Halted, Expected to Resume 

Liquid oxygen loading into the core stage was automatically halted near the beginning of slow fill operations when temperature readings on the propellant showed it was warmer than intended. The rocket is in a safe configuration while teams troubleshoot and determine a path forward.  

Engineers believe they understand the issue and are working a solution that will allow operations to continue. Teams saw a similar issue during the wet dress rehearsal attempt on April 4, but at a slightly different point in propellant loading operations. 

The slow fill process involves slowly filling the core stage with propellant to thermally condition the tank until temperature and pressure are stable before beginning fast fill operations, which is when you fill the tank at a quicker pump speed. 

Follow along with the countdown on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter and watch a live stream of the test on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. 

Artemis I Update: Core Stage Liquid Oxygen Chilldown Underway 

The launch control team has begun chill down operations and resumed the countdown clock ahead of flowing super cold liquid oxygen (LOX) into the core stage tank.  The new T-0 time for today’s test is 3:57 p.m. EDT for the first of the two terminal count runs for the wet dress rehearsal.  

The process for the chill down, or cooling, uses the propellant lines to load the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage liquid oxygen in preparation for tanking. The liquid oxygen tank holds 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, cooled to minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit. Venting from the super-cold propellant may be visible during this time.  

Liquid oxygen will soon flow into the rocket. Teams will fill the tank slowly at first and then will begin filling it more quickly. As the super cold liquid oxygen fills the core stage tank, some venting may be visible.  

The next blog update will be provided when core stage liquid hydrogen loading begins. 

Follow along with the countdown on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter and watch a live stream of the test on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. 

 

Artemis I Update: Launch Director Gives “Go” for Propellant Loading, Countdown Set to Resume 

At approximately 8:05 a.m. EDT, the launch director gave the “go” to start tanking operations.  The countdown will resume at 8:47 a.m. EDT at T-6 hours, 40 minutes.  

Tanking begins with chilling down the liquid oxygen lines for the core stage. In sequential fashion, liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) will flow into the into the rocket’s core stage tank and be topped off and replenished as some of cryogenic propellant boils off.  The team also will conduct leak checks to ensure propellant loading is proceeding as expected.  Only minimal cryogenic operations are being conducted on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage because of an issue with a helium check valve found several days ago which cannot be fixed at the launch pad. Teams will chill down the lines used to load propellant into the upper stage but not flow any actual propellant to the stage. 

NASA is streaming live video of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. Venting may be visible during tanking operations. NASA is also sharing live updates on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter account.   

Artemis I Update: Teams Extending Current Hold, Gaseous Nitrogen Supply Reestablished 

Teams have extended the current hold in the countdown beyond the planned 1.5 hours. Supply has been reestablished of gaseous nitrogen used to purge oxygen from the rocket prior to tanking operations to ensure a safe environment for propellant loading, but teams need additional time to switch supply from air back to the gaseous nitrogen and to discuss confidence in the supply. When the countdown resumes, it will pick up at T-6 hours, 40 minutes. 

Artemis I Update: Mission Management Team “Go” to Proceed with Tanking Pending Resolution of Gaseous Nitrogen Supply Issue 

The mission management team chair has given a “go” to proceed  with tanking the rocket for the Artemis I  wet dress rehearsal test, pending resolution of an issue with an outage at an off-site vendor of gaseous nitrogen used inside the rocket before propellant loading. While a similar issue with a supplier of gaseous nitrogen was experienced during a previous test attempt April 4, teams expect the supply to be reestablished shortly.  Following resolution of the issue, the launch director will give the “go” to officially begin the tanking process. Meteorologists with Space Launch Delta 45 said there were no weather constraints for the test. 

 Tanking begins with chilling down the liquid oxygen lines for the core stage. In sequential fashion, liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) will flow into the into the rocket’s core stage tank and be topped off and replenished as some of cryogenic propellant boils off. The team also will conduct leak checks to ensure propellant loading is proceeding as expected.  Only minimal cryogenic operations are being conducted on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage because of an issue with a helium check valve found several days ago which cannot be fixed at the launch pad. Teams will chill down the lines used to load propellant into the upper stage but not flow any actual propellant to the stage. 

 NASA is streaming live video of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. Venting may be visible during tanking operations. NASA is also sharing live updates on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter account.   

Artemis I Update: Rocket’s Upper Stage and Boosters Powered Up, Countdown On Track

The Space Launch System rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) and boosters were powered up overnight. Teams are in the process of clearing all non-essential personnel from the launch pad area in preparation for propellant loading operations.  

At 6 a.m. EDT, or L-8 hours, 40 minutes, the launch team is expected to reach a planned 1 hour, 30-minute built-in hold. During this time the mission management team will review the status of operations, receive a weather briefing, and make a “go” or “no-go” decision to proceed with tanking operations. 

Tanking milestones include filling the rocket’s core stage with several hundred thousand gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. This will occur over a series of different propellant loading milestones to fill, top off, and replenish the tank. Because of an issue found several days ago with a helium check valve on the rocket which cannot be fixed at the launch pad, cryogenic propellant will not be loaded into the rocket’s upper stage.  

NASA is streaming live video of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. NASA is also sharing updates on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter account.   

The next blog update will be provided after the “go” or “no-go” decision to proceed with tanking operations.  

Orion Program Completes Key Review for Artemis I

NASA’s Orion Program has completed the System Acceptance Review and Design Certification Review to certify the Artemis I spacecraft is fit for flight, ready to venture from Earth to the lunar vicinity, and return home for landing and recovery.

The review examined every spacecraft system, all test data, inspection reports, and analyses that support verification, to ensure every aspect of the spacecraft has the right technical maturity.

In effect, the review gives the stamp of approval to the entire spacecraft development effort and is the final formal milestone to pass before integration with the Space Launch System rocket.

In addition to spacecraft design, the review certified all reliability and safety analyses, production quality and configuration management systems, and operations manuals.

Orion, the Space Launch System, and Exploration Ground Systems programs are foundational elements of the Artemis program, beginning with Artemis I, the first integrated flight test of Orion and SLS next year. Artemis II will follow as the first human mission, taking astronauts farther into space than ever before.