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STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION
NASA restarted a two-day dress-rehearsal countdown Tuesday for the company’s new House Launch System moon rocket after a collection of unrelated glitches, largely involving floor programs, blocked two earlier makes an attempt to completely gas the massive launcher to confirm its readiness for flight.
The lone rocket-related drawback — bother with a one-way helium pressurization valve within the booster’s second stage — can’t be fastened on the launch pad and engineers will probably be unable to pump supercold cryogenic propellants into the stage throughout fueling operations Thursday as initially deliberate.
As a substitute, the crew will think about loading the SLS core stage with 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen gas and 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen Thursday morning, testing their capacity to watch and management the movement of propellants, verifying management room commanding and validating software program by way of two terminal countdown check runs.
In a single, the countdown will tick all the way down to the T-minus 33-second mark earlier than a recycle again to T-minus 10 minutes to check procedures that could possibly be wanted ought to an issue interrupt an precise launch countdown.
A second run will then will tick all the way in which all the way down to T-minus 9.3 seconds, the second earlier than primary engine ignition instructions could be despatched for an precise launch. At that time, the bottom launch sequencer pc will cease the countdown and the check will finish.
The unique objectives of the countdown check included loading each phases with liquid oxygen and hydrogen.
But it surely additionally “was about testing the Launch Management Middle, all the (floor assist gear), our sister management facilities … and ensuring that we’re all in a position to function in a day-of-launch setting,” mentioned Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s first feminine launch director.
Given the helium valve challenge, the crew “checked out what of these aims can we go and attain with out loading the higher stage. We need to get as a lot knowledge as we are able to whereas we’re on the pad. The information will lead us and inform us what we have to do subsequent.”
It’s not but identified whether or not a further fueling check is likely to be required in some unspecified time in the future earlier than launch, however the SLS higher stage, often known as the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, or ICPS, can’t be loaded with propellants except the core stage is stuffed as properly.
In any case, the revised costume rehearsal countdown check started at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday as deliberate. If all goes properly, core stage fueling operations will start round 7 a.m. Thursday with cutoff focused for two:40 p.m.
Whereas the higher stage won’t be loaded with propellants, liquid oxygen and hydrogen will movement by way of launch pad switch traces and into the ICPS plumbing to ensure the system is leak free.
After the check is full, engineers will spend about 10 days readying the rocket and its cellular launch platform for the 4.2-mile journey again to the Car Meeting Constructing the place the helium valve will probably be changed.
What occurs after that isn’t but identified. NASA desires to launch the SLS on its maiden flight, boosting an unpiloted Orion crew capsule past the moon and again, a while this summer time, however that can rely upon what further testing is required.
“That is the primary flight of a program that’s supposed to final for years, to take us again to the moon … and someday to go on to Mars,” mentioned Blackwell-Thompson. “And so when you concentrate on that funding, and you concentrate on the primary flight, it’s a must to count on that you just’re going to be taught issues.
“You may’t have a primary flight and never have some studying. And so what do you do when one thing occurs? You adapt, you have a look at the info, you develop a plan and also you let the info lead you to the following step. And that’s what we’re going to do in getting ready this wonderful car to go fly.”
The House Launch System rocket is essentially the most highly effective launcher ever constructed for NASA, a key aspect of the company’s Artemis program to ship astronauts again to the moon.
Outfitted with two prolonged solid-fuel boosters and a core stage powered by 4 modified house shuttle primary engines, the SLS rocket will tip the scales at 5.75 million kilos at liftoff and generate a ground-shaking 8.8 million kilos of thrust, making it essentially the most highly effective rocket but flown.
The 322-foot-tall SLS was hauled out to launch pad 39B on March 18 and engineers started the primary try at a dress-rehearsal countdown on April 1.
However earlier than core stage fueling may start two days later, the crew bumped into issues with followers wanted to pressurize the rocket’s cellular launch platform, a routine step to stop any free hydrogen gasoline from making its approach into numerous compartments and posing a hearth hazard.
The issue couldn’t be rapidly fastened and the fueling operation was delayed someday to April 4. Two extra floor system issues brought on further delays earlier than the helium valve challenge was recognized. Engineers then opted to press forward Tuesday with a modified countdown.
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