NASA engineers changed leaky seals on two gasoline strains of the Artemis 1 moon rocket over the weekend, setting the stage for a fueling check to see if the repairs labored.Â
Engineers engaged on the tail of the large Artemis 1 Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket accomplished the seal replacements on Friday (Sept. 9), NASA officers mentioned in an replace.
The restore work is geared toward plugging a hydrogen fuel leak in an 8-inch line main into the core stage of the 32-story SLS rocket. That leak pressured NASA to name off a Sept. 3 launch try of Artemis 1, the primary uncrewed check flight of the Artemis program that goals to return astronauts to the moon. Whereas changing that seal, engineers additionally changed the seal on a smaller 4-inch hydrogen “bleed line” that additionally noticed a leak in a scrubbed Aug. 29 launch strive.
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With the restore work full, NASA is now making ready for a fueling check to examine if the SLS rocket’s hydrogen leaks are certainly fastened. That check may happen as early as Saturday, Sept. 17, and can fill the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) rocket with the 736,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen it wants for launch, NASA has mentioned.Â
“This demonstration will permit engineers to examine the brand new seals beneath cryogenic, or supercold, circumstances as anticipated on launch day and earlier than continuing to the subsequent launch try,” NASA wrote in the update (opens in new tab) on Friday.Â
On Thursday (Sept. 8), NASA officers mentioned it’s targeting Sept. 23 for the next Artemis 1 launch attempt. A Sept. 27 date can be accessible. Each launch alternatives rely upon NASA fixing the gasoline leak and the SLS rocket passing its fueling check, the company mentioned.Â
NASA additionally must safe a waiver from the U.S. Space Force so it won’t need to roll the SLS again to its Car Meeting Constructing for traditional checks of the rocket’s flight termination system, a system designed to destroy the rocket if it veers off track throughout launch.
The upcoming fueling check will permit NASA to carry out a so-called “kick-start bleed check” on the SLS rocket’s 4 primary engines. That check is designed to sit back the engines right down to a temperature of minus 420 levels Fahrenheit (minus 251 levels Celsius) to organize them for his or her super-chilled propellant. The company was unable to carry out that check throughout the first two Artemis 1 launch makes an attempt.Â
“Groups will verify the leak has been repaired and likewise carry out the kick-start bleed test (opens in new tab) and a pre-pressurization check, which will validate the bottom and flight {hardware} and software program methods can carry out the mandatory features required to thermally situation the engines for flight,” NASA officers wrote within the replace. “Following the check, groups will consider the information together with plans for the subsequent launch alternative. “
Electronic mail Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or comply with him @tariqjmalik. Comply with us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
