NASA Announces New Launch Date For Artemis I
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Artemis I: NASA completes tests and prepares for a third launch |
NASA Concludes Tests on the Artemis I rocket and is ready for launch
The teams will evaluate the test data, along with weather and other factors, before confirming they are ready to proceed to the next launch opportunity.
The mission's SLS rocket has successfully completed a crucial evaluation to give the green light for a new liftoff attempt, despite yet another fuel leak.
NASA concluded this Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, United States, a series of tests on the SLS rocket of the Unmanned Mission Artemis I, having fulfilled all the objectives set and despite the discovery of a leak of liquid hydrogen.
There were many hours of testing and stress, after the two cancellations that the Artemis I mission had to launch, but yesterday it successfully completed the critical fueling test without serious failures. That is why NASA is considering September 27 as the target date for the launch.
Teams have concluded today's cryogenic test for the #Artemis I mission to the Moon. All objectives were met during the test. The team will begin to evaluate the data, along with weather and other factors, to confirm readiness for a Sept. 27 launch attempt: https://t.co/vfcQxX7IQg pic.twitter.com/89nlG4X5cQ
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) September 21, 2022
Artemis I launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson confirmed that all objectives for the cryogenic demonstration test were met, and teams are now proceeding with critical safety activities and preparations to drain the rocket's tanks. After finding a hydrogen leak in a cavity in the tail service mast umbilical early in the loading process, engineers were able to fix the problem and proceed with planned activities.
The four main objectives of the cryogenic demonstration included evaluating the repair to address the hydrogen leak identified in the previous launch attempt, loading propellants into the rocket's tanks using new procedures, performing the startup purge, and performing a pre-pressurization test.
NASA manages October 2 as the second launch date and in that case the Orion spacecraft would return on November 11, with a launch window of 109 minutes that would open at 2:52 p.m. (18:52 GMT).
The first launch attempt of Artemis I took place on August 29, but was canceled due to a failure in one of the 4 RS-25 engines of the powerful SLS rocket, which is 98 meters high.
That was followed by a second attempt on September 3, suspended due to a liquid hydrogen leak.
The objective of the first Artemis mission is to test the capabilities of the SLS and the Orion spacecraft before a manned voyage originally scheduled for 2024, to be followed by a third in which for the first time since 1972 American astronauts, including a woman and a person of color, will step on the lunar surface.
