Tanking milestones consist of filling the rockets core phase and ICPS tanks with over 700,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. This will happen over a series of various propellant filling milestones to fill, top off, and replenish the tanks.
NASA is streaming live video of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel. NASA is likewise sharing live updates on the Exploration Ground Systems Twitter account.
The next blog site upgrade will be provided after the “go” or “no-go” decision to proceed with tanking operations.
NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the very first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASAs Artemis I flight test, the totally stacked and integrated SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to validate systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber
The Artemis I release team continues to press ahead through the damp dress practice session countdown. During the overnight hours after identifying 4 lightning strikes at Launch Pad 39B would not stop the countdown from continuing, the interim cryogenic propulsion phase (ICPS) and strong rocket boosters of the Space Launch System rocket were powered up. Soon after, all non-essential workers left the launch pad.
Groups continue to prepare to load super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the Space Launch System core phase as part of the Artemis I test, which started on April 1.
At 6 a.m. EDT, or L-8 hours, 40 minutes, the launch team reached a planned 1 hour, 30-minute built-in hold in the countdown. During this time the objective management team will make a “go” or “no-go” decision to continue with tanking operations. If objective supervisors choose to proceed with cryogenic loading operations, it is set up to start at L-7 hours 40 minutes.