NASA declares SLS tanking examination a achievements – SpaceNews
PARIS — NASA stated it completed all the goals of a House Launch Process tanking check Sept. 21 despite the reoccurrence of liquid hydrogen leaks.
The day-lengthy take a look at at Kennedy Space Center’s Start Complicated 39B included filling the SLS core phase and higher stage with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants, carrying out the “kickstart bleed” of liquid hydrogen into the main phase engines and a “pre-press” check of the liquid hydrogen tank. The examination was developed to validate that alterations these types of as substitute of seals and a new loading treatment would avoid hydrogen leaks witnessed in the prior start endeavor Sept. 3.
Early in the test, although, controllers noted a liquid hydrogen leak in the tail support mast umbilical, the place liquid hydrogen is transferred from ground techniques to the main stage, that exceeded limitations and temporarily stopped loading. Warming the connection of the umbilical to the main stage then cooling it appeared to perform, with the leak slipping nicely beneath the limit of 4% focus of hydrogen but not entirely going absent.
Another hydrogen leak took position for the duration of the pre-push examination on a 2nd, smaller liquid hydrogen line, with concentrations as significant as 5%. Engineers ongoing the exam and the leak diminished more than time.
NASA said at the conclusion of the take a look at that they satisfied all of their goals but stopped quick of declaring they ended up completely ready to proceed with a launch at the upcoming opportunity, Sept. 27.
“I feel the check went really very well,” reported Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA Artemis 1 start director, all through a NASA Tv set interview soon following the end of the tanking take a look at. “All of the objectives that we set out to do we have been ready to attain right now.”
She reported, although, it was premature to declare the vehicle completely ready for an additional launch endeavor. “I feel we’ll get the data and we’ll go see what it tells us,” she explained. “I never like to get forward of the info, and so I’d like the staff to have the possibility to go appear at it to see if there are modifications we require to make to our loading technique, our timelines, or if we’re excellent as is.”
The tanking examination is not the only aspect influencing a start conclusion. NASA is still doing the job with the Japanese Range to secure a waiver for the SLS flight termination system, whose certification expired at the close of the previous start period in early September. The U.S. Space Drive, which operates the vary, was not envisioned to determine on a waiver till immediately after the tanking exam.
Tropical temperature could also enjoy a issue. A procedure at this time known as Invest 98L is forming the Caribbean that is forecast to develop into a tropical storm in the subsequent handful of days and could head to Florida, centered on existing prolonged-selection weather conditions models. That would need NASA to at least consider rolling again the SLS to the Auto Assembly Building.
Jeremy Parsons, deputy manager of NASA’s Exploration Floor Devices application, reported at a Sept. 19 briefing that it would choose about 3 days to get the car back in the VAB.
PARIS — NASA stated it completed all the goals of a House Launch Process tanking check Sept. 21 despite the reoccurrence of liquid hydrogen leaks.
The day-lengthy take a look at at Kennedy Space Center’s Start Complicated 39B included filling the SLS core phase and higher stage with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants, carrying out the “kickstart bleed” of liquid hydrogen into the main phase engines and a “pre-press” check of the liquid hydrogen tank. The examination was developed to validate that alterations these types of as substitute of seals and a new loading treatment would avoid hydrogen leaks witnessed in the prior start endeavor Sept. 3.
Early in the test, although, controllers noted a liquid hydrogen leak in the tail support mast umbilical, the place liquid hydrogen is transferred from ground techniques to the main stage, that exceeded limitations and temporarily stopped loading. Warming the connection of the umbilical to the main stage then cooling it appeared to perform, with the leak slipping nicely beneath the limit of 4% focus of hydrogen but not entirely going absent.
Another hydrogen leak took position for the duration of the pre-push examination on a 2nd, smaller liquid hydrogen line, with concentrations as significant as 5%. Engineers ongoing the exam and the leak diminished more than time.
NASA said at the conclusion of the take a look at that they satisfied all of their goals but stopped quick of declaring they ended up completely ready to proceed with a launch at the upcoming opportunity, Sept. 27.
“I feel the check went really very well,” reported Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA Artemis 1 start director, all through a NASA Tv set interview soon following the end of the tanking take a look at. “All of the objectives that we set out to do we have been ready to attain right now.”
She reported, although, it was premature to declare the vehicle completely ready for an additional launch endeavor. “I feel we’ll get the data and we’ll go see what it tells us,” she explained. “I never like to get forward of the info, and so I’d like the staff to have the possibility to go appear at it to see if there are modifications we require to make to our loading technique, our timelines, or if we’re excellent as is.”
The tanking examination is not the only aspect influencing a start conclusion. NASA is still doing the job with the Japanese Range to secure a waiver for the SLS flight termination system, whose certification expired at the close of the previous start period in early September. The U.S. Space Drive, which operates the vary, was not envisioned to determine on a waiver till immediately after the tanking exam.
Tropical temperature could also enjoy a issue. A procedure at this time known as Invest 98L is forming the Caribbean that is forecast to develop into a tropical storm in the subsequent handful of days and could head to Florida, centered on existing prolonged-selection weather conditions models. That would need NASA to at least consider rolling again the SLS to the Auto Assembly Building.
Jeremy Parsons, deputy manager of NASA’s Exploration Floor Devices application, reported at a Sept. 19 briefing that it would choose about 3 days to get the car back in the VAB.