NASA’s huge moon rocket is heading off launch pad next week

NASA is getting ready to rehouse its Space Launch System rocket after three attempts to complete wet dress rehearsal testing failed.

The Vehicle Assembly Building will be where the rocket will be stored after it is rolled off the launch pad. The journey from the Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the VAB will take four miles and will require the same massive crawler which carried the rocket from the building to the pad one and a half weeks ago.

The SLS rocket is expected to be taken back to the VAB early next week, according to NASA. The hydrazine from the solid rocket boosters needs to be removed before the rocket can be returned to its temporary home.

Engineers can fix some of the small issues that caused problems in earlier tests once the rocket is back inside the VAB. NASA called off the third attempt at the wet dress rehearsal because of a leak in the liquid hydrogen system. They will fix the stuck valve that caused problems on the second test.

The supplier of the gaseous nitrogen used in the test will be able to upgrade their system because of the delay.

The positive outcomes of some of the testing objectives have been stressed by NASA.

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