He says he is preparing for the next release opportunity as early as Friday, September 23.
Officials halted the original Saturday, September 3 launch countdown after discovering a hydrogen leak at a quick disconnect, an interface between the Mobile Launcher’s hydrogen fuel supply line and the Space Launch System rocket (SLS).
Artemisia seals
NASA reports that engineers are “making progress in repairing the area.” Specifically, teams have replaced the seals on the Space Launch System rocket’s center stage associated with the leak. A line used to fill and drain liquid hydrogen from the center stage and a purge line used to redirect some of the propellant during refueling operations were removed and replaced this week.
Nearby, Nasa says, technicians will reconnect the umbilical plates and conduct inspections before preparing for a fencing demonstration (Saturday, September 17). This will allow engineers to test the new seals in cryogenic conditions as expected on launch day.
“Although Artemis will not have human crew members on board, senior management stressed the importance of thoroughly testing and understanding the systems to ensure the safety of future astronauts who will rely on the SLS, the Orion spacecraft and Kennedy Space Center ground systems. for subsequent Artemis missions.”
“To replace the quick disconnect seal, technicians have installed a tent-like enclosure around the work area that protects the hardware from the weather and other environmental conditions. After the repair work is complete, the teams will test the seal under the same conditions they will experience during launch and evaluate plans for the next launch attempt.”
More information about the Artemis I mission can be found on the NASA website.
See also: Masten XL-1 lunar lander to prepare for human landings on the Moon