NASA to push forward with ‘wet’ gown rehearsal for Artemis II moon mission

NASA pushes forward with ‘wet’ gown rehearsal for Artemis II moon mission

By Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Claire Cameron

NASA is gearing as much as launch Artemis II, the company’s extremely anticipated first crewed mission to moon in additional than half a century. An important step is Artemis II’s “wet” gown rehearsal—a serious take a look at of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule that may home the mission’s 4 astronauts. At Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, engineers will try to gas the rocket and simulate a countdown to launch as quickly as January 31, the company mentioned in an update on Monday.

If all of it goes easily, the company’s plan to slingshot 4 astronauts across the moon and again to Earth will go forward, with a launch date coming as early as the primary week of February.

The moist gown rehearsal will see NASA technicians load up the uncrewed spacecraft’s rocket with greater than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic gas—particularly, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen—earlier than operating by a countdown to launch.

On supporting science journalism

If you are having fun with this text, think about supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By buying a subscription you’re serving to to make sure the way forward for impactful tales concerning the discoveries and concepts shaping our world at this time.

The take a look at might end result within the SLS and Orion being wheeled again from the launchpad for additional tinkering, nevertheless. That’s what occurred in 2022, when the uncrewed Artemis I mission sprung a number of liquid hydrogen gas leaks on the launchpad and through testing—a recurring downside that delayed its launch considerably.

Aside from Artemis II’s coming moist gown rehearsal, NASA can be testing the water methods onboard Orion to ensure its water is match to drink. “Initial samples showed higher levels of total organic carbon than expected,” the company mentioned in the identical replace on Monday. Officials have additionally made changes to the emergency exit system on the pad. The system is made up of a collection of gondolalike baskets that should carry the crew and launchpad workers to security, ought to one thing go incorrect.

Weather circumstances could also affect the timing of Artemis II’s launch. Temperatures on the Space Center hit the low 40s Fahrenheit on Tuesday however are expected to rise going into the weekend. The company is taking steps to arrange for the colder than ordinary temperatures, NASA mentioned in the identical assertion.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you loved this text, I’d wish to ask on your assist. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and business for 180 years, and proper now often is the most important second in that two-century historical past.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I used to be 12 years outdated, and it helped form the way in which I take a look at the world. SciAm at all times educates and delights me, and conjures up a way of awe for our huge, stunning universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you assist make sure that our protection is centered on significant analysis and discovery; that we’ve got the sources to report on the selections that threaten labs throughout the U.S.; and that we assist each budding and dealing scientists at a time when the worth of science itself too usually goes unrecognized.

In return, you get important information, charming podcasts, good infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch movies, difficult video games, and the science world’s finest writing and reporting. You may even present somebody a subscription.

There has by no means been a extra essential time for us to face up and present why science issues. I hope you’ll assist us in that mission.