March 29, 2024

Final Work Continues To Ready NASA’s Artemis I Moon Rocket for Launch Next Month

Service technicians have actually ended up installing the rockets flight batteries. As part of operations to prepare the flight termination system, engineers set up and checked the core stage flight command receiver decoders and likewise checked the solid rocket boosters automatic destruct systems. Work continues to finish the setup of the thermal security system blankets on the interim cryogenic propulsion phase and launch car stage adapter. Following conclusion of the upper phase closeout work, groups will perform flight closeout inspections. This consists of getting rid of gain access to platforms and installing flight doors to change the ground support devices coverings on the core phase.
Teams likewise are changing the inflatable seal between the mobile launchers team access arm and Orions launch abort system after it experienced some small damage due to harsh weather condition sustained while it was out at Kennedys launch pad 39B for the damp dress practice session tests. The seal prevents anything from the outside environment from getting in the capsule. As soon as the seal is changed and evaluated, engineers will complete setting up the staying payloads inside the team module before SLS and Orion roll back out to the pad for launch.

This artists making shows a birds-eye view of the liftoff of NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This Block 1 team configuration of the rocket will send the first three Artemis missions to the Moon. Credit: NASA/MSFC
Teams are moving closer to ending up operations for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This comes with simply one month left till NASAs first launch attempt for the Artemis I mission.
NASA is presently targeting launch for no earlier than Monday, August 29, at 8:33 a.m. EDT (5:33 a.m. PDT) throughout a 2-hour window. An effective launch on August 29 would lead to a mission duration of about 42 days, returning Monday, October 10. Engineers continue to progress through novice operations and are prepared to learn and adapt along the way. Teams have actually prepared appropriately with extra launch opportunities on September 2 and September 5 if more than one launch effort is required.
Engineers successfully reconnected the hydrogen tail service mast umbilical where a hydrogen leak was identified throughout the last wet gown wedding rehearsal test. The connection has actually been evaluated and no leakages were identified under ambient conditions in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Up next, technicians will carry out extra jobs to return the area to its launch configuration.

If more than one launch attempt is required, teams have planned appropriately with extra launch opportunities on September 2 and September 5.
Work continues to finish the installation of the thermal defense system blankets on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage and launch automobile stage adapter. Groups likewise are changing the inflatable seal in between the mobile launchers crew gain access to arm and Orions launch abort system after it experienced some minor damage due to severe weather condition sustained while it was out at Kennedys launch pad 39B for the damp gown practice session tests. As soon as the seal is changed and evaluated, engineers will finish installing the staying payloads inside the team module before SLS and Orion roll back out to the pad for launch.

By NASA
July 30, 2022