Marking the first integrated flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft beyond the Moon, the Artemis I launch will represent a moment in space history.
As a result of earlier aborted missions, NASA said Monday (Sept. 12) that it will conduct the demonstration test no earlier than Sept. 21.
He has updated his release opportunity request to September 27th, with a possible October 2nd backup opportunity currently under review.
NASA had to abort previous launch dates due to a leak of liquid hydrogen.
Speaking at the time, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Artemis launch manager, said teams found a leak of liquid hydrogen while loading propellant into the rocket’s middle stage.
He also reported that multiple troubleshooting efforts to address the area of the leak, re-attaching a seal to the quick disconnect where liquid hydrogen is introduced into the rocket, failed to fix the problem.
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While it can’t be said definitively what caused the leak, the focus is on inadvertent over-pressurization of the hydrogen line early in the morning and incorrect commands to the wrong valve, according to reports.
Engineers tried to pump helium through the line, but to no avail.
gasworld understands that Artemis I crews spent the weekend completing repair work on the hydrogen leak area, reattaching the ground and rocket side plates to the feedline quick disconnect of liquid hydrogen fuel, where two seals were replaced last week.
NASA has said that this week the teams will conduct tests under ambient conditions to ensure there is a tight bond between the two plates before retesting during the cryogenic tank demonstration and beginning preparations for the test.
Both liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen will be loaded into the core and intimin cryogenic propulsion stage of the SLS as part of the demonstration. This will allow NASA to see if previously detected leaks have been successfully repaired.
If the launch goes ahead as planned on September 27, Artemis I is expected to land on November 5.