NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues to prepare the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for their upcoming wet dress rehearsal. After three failed practice attempts, the enormous rocket and spaceship were hauled out of the launch site a few weeks ago to make way for subsequent launches.
SLS is theoretically slated to launch for the first time in June 2022, but that date is still uncertain because it has yet to perform a wet dress rehearsal.
These rehearsals include a series of crucial trials aimed to demonstrate that Artemis 1’s SLS rocket, Orion Spacecraft, and ground infrastructure are ready for launch.
The first wet dress rehearsal began on April 1 and was expected to end 48 hours later, but the team encountered numerous issues. These issues persisted through the second and third attempts, until the rocket was eventually rolled off the launch pad to make place for additional launches.
On May 13, NASA revealed that its technicians are re-tightening fasteners on the rocket’s “umbilical lines” to repair a hydrogen leak discovered during one of the wet dress rehearsal efforts.
Engineers confirmed that the bolts are no longer relaxing on their own, implying that the system will remain tightly sealed throughout propellant loading. In addition, the “interim cryogenic propulsion stage” (ICPS) helium check valve was changed.
During this process, they discovered a broken rubber O-ring seal in the region where the ICPS is separated from the mobile launcher during launch.
This ring became loose and entered the valve, preventing it from properly sealing. The team is now attempting to establish the root cause of this in order to prevent future occurrences.
The researchers also found that the Orion spacecraft suffered no water damage as a result of the strong thunderstorm that passed over the spacecraft during the initial wet dress rehearsal attempt.
The teams then retracted the platforms inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), which houses the SLS rocket, in order to roll the SLS and Orion back to the Launchpad. There is still some work to be done inside the VAB before NASA announces the dates for the next wet dress rehearsal on the rocket.
To read our blog on “NASA’s new crews of astronauts successfully sent to ISS by SpaceX,” click here
