A group of NASA and Jacobs engineers are on console for the very first Artemis II launch simulation inside Firing Room 1 at the Launch Control Center at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 20, 2023. The team is practicing the actions to introduce NASAs Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II crewed objective. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The Role of Simulations in Mission Preparedness
Throughout the firms history, groups regularly have actually conducted simulations to practice numerous launch-day scenarios and remain fresh. While the “sims,” as the groups call them, assist the launch staff member, they likewise keep the software the launch team uses– the launch control system– updated. Sims also inform the timing of operations and turning points within the countdown and allow the group to make adjustments that might be needed.
These simulations dont appear out of thin air. A training group within the Exploration Ground Systems Program (EGS) is dedicated to tossing every curve ball, problem, and special situation at the launch team.
” Each simulation is a little science fiction story, however its a story that assists the launch team, NASA, and the nation to be more successful in our real ventures,” said John Apfelbaum, EGS simulation training lead at NASA Kennedy. “Yes, we get to be a little sneaky, and we attempt to put the launch team in situations they might not have actually thought of.”
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA Artemis launch director, leads the Artemis II launch simulation at Kennedy. Artemis II will be the very first mission with astronauts that will check and examine out all of the Orion spacecraft systems required for future crewed objectives. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Major Focus of Launch Simulations
Since the Artemis launch countdown is nearly two days long, launch simulations focus on two significant parts: propellant loading and terminal countdown. Propellant loading refers to the part in the launch countdown where teams fuel the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with cryogenic, or super cooled liquid gases. After loading operations are complete, groups move to the final and among the most dynamic parts in the countdown– terminal count, which is the last 10 minutes in the countdown, where preparations for liftoff are total and all the systems rocket and Orion spacecraft come online prepared to take flight.
” Simulations are really essential to the launch group preparations,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director. “Sometimes the issues the sim group puts us through are uncomplicated, some are complicated, a few of them lead to a continuation of the launch countdown, and some will lead to a scrub choice. The idea behind simulations is to have an opportunity to practice as a team over and over again all the various things that can happen on launch day.”
NASA Test Director Sharif Abdel-Magid, seated, and Carlos Monge, branch chief for Test, Launch, and Recovery Operations, practice the actions to introduce NASAs Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II crewed objective. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
While the Artemis II team did not take part in this simulation, groups throughout NASA centers are getting ready for when incorporated simulations throughout numerous centers and teams begin closer to release.
Cryogenic Loading Simulations
This latest simulation concentrated on loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen– the two primary propellants that power SLS. Propellant loading begins roughly nine hours prior to liftoff to ensure groups can slowly and thoroughly load the minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit super-cool liquid hydrogen and minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit liquid oxygen.
Throughout a cryogenic sim, common problems the launch team needs to repair include hydrogen leakages, irregular temperature level sensing units on engines, or perhaps fires.
” Each training situation must be based upon physically possible failure of a real part of the Artemis flight or ground systems,” stated Apfelbaum. “The root cause, the downstream impacts, along with our contingency procedures are thoroughly considered when establishing a specific training scenario.”
Terminal Count Simulations
Though terminal count describes the final 10 minutes before launch, those last minutes represent some of the most vibrant and intense moments in the countdown because of all the critical turning points that need to occur in a certain order prior to liftoff. For terminal count sims, the countdown generally starts at T minus 1 hour and 40 minutes.
” Due to how important it is to get the vehicle into a safe setup after a launch cut-off, a lot of training simulations do not continue all the way to launch,” Apfelbaum stated. “A cut-off in the last few seconds of the count is one of the most crucial circumstances for the launch group, and we provide them every chance we can to practice important safety steps.”
Simulating Various Scenarios and Preparing for Future Missions
Throughout the course of their Artemis II training, the launch group will practice other types of simulations that include abort-event situations and various training occasions with the Artemis II team, all with the security of the 4 astronauts flying aboard the mission at the top of mind. They also will practice day-of-launch simulations that include integrating both the cryogenic loading and terminal count sims into one integrated sim with supporting teams across the nation.
The simulations are likewise assisting prepare teams for future Artemis objectives on NASAs course to developing a long-lasting existence at the Moon for science and exploration.
This artists rendering reveals an aerial view of the liftoff of NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. NASA is conducting substantial simulations in preparation for the Artemis II mission, concentrating on propellant loading and terminal countdown treatments. These simulations intend to prepare the group for different scenarios to make sure mission success and team safety. Credit: NASA/MSFC
NASAs Artemis launch group has actually started simulations for the Artemis II objective, the very first crewed mission of the Artemis program. These simulations are essential for practicing various launch situations, troubleshooting prospective problems, and ensuring the crews safety. Two significant focus areas are propellant loading and the terminal countdown. These sessions are important for preparing teams not just for Artemis II however likewise for future objectives as NASA aims to establish a long-lasting lunar presence.
On July 20, NASAs Artemis launch group performed its first simulation for Artemis II, the first crewed mission under Artemis, inside the Launch Control Center at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
As NASA teams prepare to send out the crew of four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and bring them back securely, they will get involved in a large range of simulations to guarantee workers supporting every aspect of the objective are simply as all set and focused as they were for Artemis I.
A group of NASA and Jacobs engineers are on console for the very first Artemis II launch simulation inside Firing Room 1 at the Launch Control Center at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 20, 2023. The group is practicing the steps to release NASAs Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II crewed mission. While the “sims,” as the teams call them, assist the launch team members, they likewise keep the software the launch group uses– the launch control system– updated. Propellant filling refers to the portion in the launch countdown where groups fuel the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with cryogenic, or super cooled liquid gases.” Simulations are truly crucial to the launch group preparations,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director.