NASA requested an extension from the Space Force that would allow the space agency to perform a third launch attempt of its mega moon rocket later this month.
A hydrogen leak that resulted in a failed launch attempt this past Saturday is currently being repaired by NASA. Jim Free, associate administrator of NASA's exploration systems development mission directorate, told reporters Thursday that the agency wants to go ahead with a third attempt in late September.
The Eastern Range is part of the U.S. Space Force. The range has time restrictions to make sure the public is safe. The time has expired for NASA's SLS, which currently stands on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, which means NASA is required to roll SLS back to the Vehicle Assembly Building and re-test the rocket's flight terminated batteries. The system is designed to destroy the rocket if it goes astray in flight. There is a problem with batteries in the flight terminated system.
NASA's launch permission was extended from 20 to 25 days after the launch period ended on September 6. NASA is requesting a couple of dates from the Range in order to support the Artemis 1 mission, in which SLS will launch an uncrewed capsule on a journey to the Moon and back. NASA's relationship with the Range remains "fantastic", and that "our job is to...comply with their requirements." NASA will need to make a decision on how to proceed should the space agency not hear back in a timely manner, Free said. He said that NASA wanted to be respectful of the Eastern Range's decision-making.
SLS would have to be returned to the VAB to allow technicians to inspect the batteries. The start of the Artemis era would be delayed even further if this scenario is true. Artemis 1 is an uncrewed capsule that will travel around the Moon and back, followed by Artemis 2 in late 2024, a similar mission with a human crew, and finally Artemis 3, in which NASA hopes to return astronauts to the lunar surface. The Artemis program is about returning humans to the moon and setting the stage for a mission to Mars.
In order to not conflict with NASA's upcoming DART mission, the requested dates are September 23 and September 27. A conflict with the Artemis 1 launch will be created by the DART team requiring access to NASA's Deep Space Network. Two non-conflicting dates were proposed by the Artemis 1 team because DART will hit Dimorphos on September 26th. The upcoming launch of the Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station poses a potential conflict as NASA is looking at a third date in October.
NASA needs to fix and test its rocket, which failed to launch on the first two attempts, as well as needing a special waiver from the Eastern Range. The first failed launch was caused by a glitchy sensor, while the second was caused by a hydrogen leak. There is a seal on the quick connect that connects the liquid hydrogen fuel line to the rocket.
Mike Bolger, exploration ground systems program manager, said engineers are not sure if the over-pressurization caused the seal to be damaged, but he said the extra pressure did not exceed the design specifications. The automated system that controls the pressure in the hydrogen fuel line is normally used by technicians. The team didn't have enough time to practice the procedure, so "we didn't put our operators in the best place we could have"
The stage is set for a major tanking test on September 17 when ground teams finish their repairs. Ground teams would perform a full tanking of the core stage and upper stage under normal conditions. The technicians are planning on filling the rocket with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in a more gentle way. He later explained that this approach was based on experience gleaned from green runs and previous rocket launches and that it would afford better control over the tanking process.
The proposed tanking test on September 17 sounds suspiciously like a wet dress rehearsal, but Bolger said it's most definitely not. He said that previous wet dress rehearsals of SLSaddressed all requirements and that a full wet dress is not necessary. It was odd to say that NASA didn't achieve 10% of its test objectives during the most recent wet dress.
The stage would be set for the third attempt if the tanking test went well. The launch window would open at 6:47 a.m. On October 18 there will be a return to Earth by the winged creature. A launch attempt on Tuesday, September 27 will take 70 minutes to complete. On November 5, there was a splash down in the Pacific.
The launch dates are hypothetical until the Eastern Range issues a new Waiver. SLS will have to return to the VAB if a Waiver is not issued. NASA would have to consider a third launch period if that happens.
Hydrogen leaks continue to be a big problem for NASA launches.
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