This artists rendering shows a birds-eye view of the liftoff of NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Credit: NASA/MSFC
Work continues inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for the Artemis I wet gown wedding rehearsal test, presently targeted for next month. Groups have been setting up the flight termination system on the rocket and working on the first of a two-part test of the system.
For security, all rockets are needed to have a flight termination system that the Space Launch Delta 45 can utilize to terminate the flight if required. As soon as the rocket and spacecraft systems are confirmed throughout damp gown practice session testing, the 322-foot-tall rocket will roll back into the VAB for last evaluations and checkouts, consisting of the second part of the flight termination system test, ahead of going back to the pad for launch.
Teams with NASAs Exploration Ground Systems and contractor Jacobs lower the Space Launch System core stage– the biggest part of the rocket– onto the mobile launcher, in between the twin solid rocket boosters, inside High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 12, 2021. Credit: NASA/Cory Huston
In addition to work on the flight termination system, the team is setting up instrumentation on the twin strong rocket boosters and core phase, in addition to instrumentation required for the wet dress rehearsal rollout.
Artemis I is a flight test, and engineers will catch as much information as possible on the efficiency of all the systems that are part of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft as well as the Kennedy ground systems that support the car throughout rollout, damp dress rehearsal, and launch. Not only will this be the first integrated flight for SLS and Orion, however it will be the first usage of lots of brand-new ground systems.
Countless sensing units and unique instruments will keep track of the rocket and spacecraft as they make the four-mile journey to Launch Complex 39B next month. The group is likewise working to examine and install thermal blankets on the core phase engine section.
Up next, the group prepares to power up the Orion spacecraft as part of checking the flight termination system and then close the spacecrafts hatch after powering it down.