NASA prepping for key fueling test of Artemis 1 moon rocket on Wednesday
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 3:26 am
https://www.space.com/artemis-1-moon-ro ... -wednesday
NASA is gearing up for a crucial fueling test of its Artemis 1 moon rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 21) that could keep the huge vehicle on track for a liftoff less than a week later.
Artemis 1, the first mission in NASA's Artemis moon program, will use a Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket to send an Orion capsule on a long journey to lunar orbit and back. NASA originally aimed to launch Artemis 1 on Aug. 29, but technical issues scuttled the planned liftoff twice.
The second of those glitches was a leak of liquid hydrogen propellant, which the mission team traced to a faulty seal in a "quick disconnect" linking the SLS core stage with a fuel line coming from Artemis 1's mobile launch tower. Technicians replaced two seals at the quick disconnect earlier this month, potentially solving the problem.
NASA is gearing up for a crucial fueling test of its Artemis 1 moon rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 21) that could keep the huge vehicle on track for a liftoff less than a week later.
Artemis 1, the first mission in NASA's Artemis moon program, will use a Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket to send an Orion capsule on a long journey to lunar orbit and back. NASA originally aimed to launch Artemis 1 on Aug. 29, but technical issues scuttled the planned liftoff twice.
The second of those glitches was a leak of liquid hydrogen propellant, which the mission team traced to a faulty seal in a "quick disconnect" linking the SLS core stage with a fuel line coming from Artemis 1's mobile launch tower. Technicians replaced two seals at the quick disconnect earlier this month, potentially solving the problem.