Liquid Oxygen Loading Underway

Liquid oxygen is being pumped into the Delta IV Heavy’s three core boosters. The RS-68A engines, one at the base of each booster core, burn liquid hydrogen and oxygen to produce the thrust needed to lift Orion off the launch pad and start it on its way to orbit. The second stage, which is also beginning to be filled with propellant, uses the same combination of hydrogen and oxygen though not nearly as much as the first stages use.

Forecast: 40 Percent Go

Air Force meteorologists lowered their expectations for acceptable conditions during today’s launch window for the launch of the Orion Flight Test. The concerns center on a rain system moving up from the south this morning. The system could bring rain and or higher winds that would not allow a liftoff today.

Forecasters will watch conditions around the Cape Canaveral launch site throughout the countdown giving regular reports to the launch team.

Meanwhile, the launch team is beginning the process for fueling the Delta IV Heavy rocket so it will be ready for launch during the 2-hour, 39-minute launch window that opens at 7:05 a.m. EST.

Launch Team Gives ‘Go’ For Tanking

The Orion/Delta IV launch teams approved fueling this morning of the Delta IV Heavy rocket with cryogenic propellants. Controllers have begun the first steps in prepping the rocket’s fuel and oxygen tanks before pumping the super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the core boosters and second stage.

The weather forecast for today calls for a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions during the launch window which opens at 7:05 a.m. EST and closes at 9:44 a.m.

Managers Tap Friday Launch Attempt

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Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Orion’s managers for NASA, Lockheed Martin and the United Launch Alliance said they will push on with planning to launch Orion on its flight test Friday morning at 7:05 a.m. EST. The launch window will be 2 hours, 39 minutes, the same time span as Thursday. “Our plan is to fly tomorrow,” said Mark Geyer, Orion program manager.

Fill-and-drain valves on the Delta IV Heavy will be tested throughout the day so the launch team can prevent a mechanical problem like one that came up Thursday. “We’re very confident we’re going to be able to exonerate the equipment,” said Dan Collins, chief operating officer of United Launch Alliance. The valves that failed to close properly late in the countdown allow liquid hydrogen to flow into the three core boosters of the first stage. Normal operation calls for the valves to stay open during the fueling and shut tight a few minutes before liftoff to seal the fuel tank.

Although Orion didn’t get off the ground today to begin its first uncrewed flight test, the officials said a great deal was learned about the systems during the countdown as the spacecraft went on internal battery power and saw other changes through the lead-up to launch and then through the three attempts at different points in the launch window. “The spacecraft worked extremely well,” said Mike Hawes, Lockheed Martin’s program manager for Orion. Lockheed Martin built Orion for NASA and is operating this mission. “The systems did just like the simulators told us they’d do.”

The weather for Friday is forecast to be a bit worse than Thursday, though still favorable. Meteorologists are calling for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

 

Scrub Briefing at Noon on NASA TV

An Orion flight test post-scrub briefing is targeted for noon EST at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The briefing will air live on NASA Television and online at https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv. Participants will include representatives from NASA’s Orion program, Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing.