NASA has been performing ongoing exams of its new House Launch System, also called the Mega Moon Rocket, which is meant to energy an uncrewed journey to the moon later this yr and, ultimately, to hold people again to the moon as properly. The company has encountered a wide range of points through the testing course of, and it lately tried a 3rd, modified model of its moist costume rehearsal, however that was known as off partway by as soon as once more.
NASA has mentioned that the problems it’s encountering usually are not large design issues however reasonably smaller, technical issues. In a press convention this Friday, April 15, it mentioned it might try the check as soon as once more as quickly as this Thursday, April 21.
The latest model of the check, during which the rocket is rolled out to the launch pad and is full of liquid propellant, was modified from earlier efforts to concentrate on utilizing the bottom methods to fill the rocket’s core stage tanks, reasonably than attempting to fill the higher stage as properly. Nevertheless, even with this modified check, there have been nonetheless points, following a fan concern within the first check and a caught valve within the second check. In the newest check, the crew recognized a liquid hydrogen leak and needed to name the check off. Liquid hydrogen is among the two fuels used, together with liquid oxygen.
“Engineers encountered a liquid hydrogen leak on the tail service mast umbilical that prevented the crew from finishing the check,” NASA wrote. “Earlier than ending the check, groups had been in a position to gather further information by chilling down the traces used to load propellant into the higher stage. The rocket stays in a protected configuration as groups assess subsequent steps.”
The core stage liquid oxygen tank was crammed virtually midway when the check was known as off, the company wrote in an replace, and the liquid hydrogen tank was crammed to round 5% of its capability. Seeing the leak, the crew needed to then drain the propellant again out of the rocket to seek out the supply of the leak.
In its press convention, NASA Artemis mission supervisor Mike Sarafin mentioned the crew may strive the check once more as early as this Thursday, however they must work round a busy schedule at Kennedy House Middle, together with the launch of the Crew-4 SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the Worldwide House Station on Saturday, April 23.
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