NASA’s Artemis II SLS rocket set to see subsequent prelaunch take a look at this week

After a hydrogen leak discovered on the rocket throughout a prelaunch take a look at delayed the mission, there’s a probability NASA’s Artemis II might nonetheless launch in March, as a brand new moist costume rehearsal in now on the calendar.

After a lot evaluation by Artemis launch groups, the rocket has been deemed prepared for the following prelaunch take a look at earlier than a last launch date is introduced. That take a look at, which incorporates fueling the rocket as much as T-33 seconds, is now set for Thursday, Feb. 19.

NASA is getting ready for the launch of its Artemis II mission, which is able to ship 4 astronauts on a historic journey across the moon. Liftoff was initially projected for this month from Kennedy Space Center, however an early February tanking take a look at, generally known as a moist costume rehearsal, delayed plans. This take a look at was meant to evaluate the rocket’s readiness — however in flip discovered a liquid hydrogen leak.

“Considering the issues observed during the lead-up to Artemis I, and the long duration between missions, we should not be surprised there are challenges entering the Artemis II campaign,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a Feb. 14 reply on X (previously Twitter).

On Feb. 12, NASA engineers carried out a confidence take a look at on the rocket, throughout which they partly loaded the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage tank with liquid hydrogen to guage seals changed inside an space of the rocket used for fueling.

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However, one other situation was discovered. During the boldness take a look at, groups skilled an issue with floor assist tools which restricted the supply of liquid hydrogen to the rocket. Over the previous weekend, engineers purged the road and inspected floor assist tools earlier than changing a suspected filter.

“The confidence test related to the seals we repaired and replaced after WDR-1 provided a great deal of data, and we observed materially lower leak rates compared to prior observations during WDR-1,” wrote Isaacman. “I would not say something broke that caused the premature end to the test, as much as we observed enough and reached a point where waiting out additional troubleshooting was unnecessary.”

“Over the weekend, teams replaced a filter in ground support equipment that was suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen during a Feb. 12 partial fueling test. The test provided enough data to allow engineers to plan toward a second wet dress rehearsal this week. Engineers have reconnected the line with the new filter and are reestablishing proper environmental conditions,” a Feb. 16 NASA replace reads.

The upcoming moist costume rehearsal take a look at has a simulated liftoff time of 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Teams will report back to stations at Kennedy Space Center roughly 50 hours prior.

If profitable, NASA might announce the launch date shortly afterward. As of present, that liftoff would come no prior to March 6.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.