HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
WATCH: Artemis I Wet Dress Rehearsal Test
NASA is targeting Monday, April 4, to resume the Artemis I wet dress rehearsal test. The test was stopped Sunday, April 3 prior to tanking due to loss of ability to pressurize the mobile launcher using two fans. The fans are needed to provide positive pressure to the enclosed areas within the mobile launcher and keep out hazardous gases.
Without this capability, technicians were unable to safely proceed with remotely loading the propellants into the rocket’s core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage.
The launch control team will meet at 6 a.m. EDT and review the status of the operations before deciding if they will proceed with propellant loading. The targeted test T-0 is planned for 2:40 p.m. EDT.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 45 currently predict favorable weather conditions for tanking operations.
During a teleconference this evening, Mike Sarafin, Artemis I mission manager and Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director indicated that teams are continuing to troubleshoot the issue with the fans and aim to have a resolution later tonight.
The Space Launch System (SLS) core stage, interim cryogenic propulsion stage, and Orion spacecraft will remain powered up overnight. The SLS boosters will be powered down, and then powered up again Sunday morning.
Teams will work through the night and into the morning to complete necessary preparations ahead of loading propellants into the rocket.
The test is designed to demonstrate the ability to conduct a full launch countdown at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B, including loading and draining cryogenic, or super-cold, propellants into the Artemis I rocket.
Teleconference participants include:
- Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters in Washington
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, NASA Exploration Ground Systems program, Kennedy
Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
NASA is streaming live video of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad on the Kennedy Newsroom YouTube channel.
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'Excitement' is the buzz word at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center next to Artemis I.
The countdown until lift off is underway, but before we can get there, leaders with the Marshall Space Flight Center will run some critical tests as we enter the final stages.
"When we finished the flight readiness review yesterday, it was a very exciting moment. We know we're not there yet, but that's a critical milestone, that we're celebrating every critical milestone," said Marshall Space Flight Center Director, Jody Singer.
It's a mega milestone for this team to help launch this 322 foot Space Launch System or SLS for Artemis I. The space center says the series of tests are critical for crew safety.
"We're doing a series of tests to make sure that we understand the rocket as best as we can before we go to the test flight, which is the big the next big test, but it gives us all and everybody owns the rocket the taxpayers on the rocket, it gives us all the best chance we can have for success," said SLS Program Manager John Honeycutt.
Team leaders say the next step is for the Orion and SLS to roll out to the launch pad will be mid-March. The series of tests is needed especially for crew safety, and making sure both the hardware and software the teams are utilizing are in sync.
"It also helps us buy down confidence when you can get some of the risks and understand the risk that you have between software to hardware, component to component when you can do that type of testing that helps build that confidence when you put the entire vehicle together for literally it's first test flight. You want to build as much confidence as you can," said Singer.
Once the Artemis I and II missions are successful, Artemis III will follow, which is the phase in which the crewed flight will go to the moon.
"I got so excited here and John Honeycutt and Jody singer talk about Artemis I, because they're where I want to be there at the end. You know, we're at the beginning. So we're just beginning to work with SpaceX, on their verifications, because as Jodi and John both mentioned, crew safety is just quintessential and that's NASA's role," said Program Manager of Human Landing System Program, Lisa Watson-Morgan.