UPDATE 4
Another delay, September 3, has prevented the Artemis launch. However all was bright as earlier this Saturday morning the NASA launch director called a “go” for propellant loading, and NASA engineers were able to successfully start running liquid oxygen from storage tanks on the ground into the rocket’s fuel tanks.
As the process began engineers started, then paused, then restarted the fueling of liquid hydrogen that is kept at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit when a leak developed. The engineers, trying to strengthen the seal, then attempted to warm the lines to hopefully strengthen the seal. But when they started to reflow the hydrogen, they noticed another leak. This time, they used helium to pressurize the line, but this didn’t work either.
NASA has said it could possibly try again after 48 hours, but if it doesn’t launch by Tuesday, the next launch window wouldn’t open until between September 19 and October 4.
UPDATE 3
The Artemis I mission management team has reviewed the status of the operations and have given a “go” for a September 3 launch attempt of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. Since the previous launch attempt on Monday, August 29, teams have updated procedures, practiced operations and refined timelines.
Over the last day, teams worked to fix a leak on the tail service mast umbilical by replacing a flex-hose and a loose pressure sensor line, as the likely the source of the leak. Teams also retorqued, or tightened, the bolts surrounding that enclosure to ensure a tight seal when introducing the super-cooled propellants through those lines. While there was no leak detected at ambient temperatures, teams will continue to monitor during tanking operations.
Teams will adjust the procedures to chill down the engines, also called the kick start bleed test, about 30 to 45 minutes earlier in the countdown during the liquid hydrogen fast fill phase for the core stage. This will to allow for additional time to cool the engines to appropriate temperatures for launch.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 45 predict 60% favorable weather conditions, improving throughout the window for Saturday.
On Saturday, live coverage of tanking operations with commentary on NASA TV will begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT. Full launch coverage in English will begin at 12:15 p.m. and NASA en espanol broadcast coverage will begin at 1 p.m. EDT. Select this link for the latest information on launch briefings and events.
DATE 2
NASA is targeting 2:17 p.m., EDT, on Saturday, September. 3, for the launch of Artemis I, the first integrated test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There is a two-hour launch window for the next attempt.
The Artemis I flight test is an uncrewed mission around the Moon that will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.
Live coverage of events will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website at this direct link…
Managers waved off the first launch attempt on August 29 when launch controllers were unable to chill down the four RS-25 engines, with one engine showing higher temperatures than the other engines. Teams currently are analyzing data, updating procedures and checking out hardware to address the issues.
Full launch coverage is as follows. All times are Eastern, all events will air live on NASA TV, and the information is subject to change based on real-time operations. Follow NASA’s Artemis blog for updates.
UPDATE 1
The NASA Artemis 1 launch was scrubbed on Monday, August 29. Issues with one of the rocket’s four engines and a vent valve have forced NASA to scrub the launch of its new moon rocket on a no-crew test flight. The launch halt occurred at 8:34 a.m., ET, and the SLS and the Orion spacecraft remain in their launch configuration and are safe.
Additionally, Mike Sarafin, Artemis 1 mission manager, says an analysis followed when lightning struck towers at the Artemis 1. After assessment, it was concluded there were no issues with the rocket. The tanking was also delayed for an hour following a lightning alert issued at the Kennedy Space Center.
NASA gave an update Monday afternoon after the scrub.
“It’s not going to fly until it’s ready. There are millions of components of this rocket and its systems, and needless to say, the complexity is daunting when you bring it all into the focus of a countdown,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during the update.
“Understand that scrubs are just a part of this program,” Nelson said. “Each one of these launches costs about $4 billion in total. And so if you have an accident on the pad because you skipped a step or something, that’s a costly mistake for that reason you’re next one’s not going to be ready for another two or three years. So you really can’t afford to mess up,” said Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica.
Sarafin said the team had to resolve a software issue.
“The team encountered an issue with the verification of the Orion software,” Sarafin said. It was resolved once it was identified as a misconfiguration related to the control module not being activated.
Then, according to Sarafin, a hydrogen leak led to loading delays. The team quickly chilled the interface and worked through the hydrogen leak. According to NASA, the engineering team was troubleshooting an Engine 3 bleed flow on the core stage and the countdown was held.
“We did encounter an issue chilling down Engine #3. We need the engine to be at the cryogenically cool temperature, such that when it starts, it’s not shocked with all the cold fuel that flows through it,” Sarafin said. “We don’t launch until it’s right. And in fact, they’ve got a problem with the gases going on the engine bleed on one engine. You can’t go, there are certain guidelines,” Nelson said.
An additional vent valve issue in the intertank caused NASA to scrub the launch.
“The technical challenges we encountered with the engine bleed and the vent valve are just things we have to take a look at,” Sarafin said. “We don’t launch until it’s right. And in fact, they’ve got a problem with the gases going on the engine bleed on one engine. You can’t go, there are certain guidelines,” Nelson said.
The next launch attempt will not take place until Friday at the earliest. The launch window on Friday opens at 12:48 p.m. and remains open until 2:48 p.m.
ORIGINAL POSTING The NASA Artemis I moon shot has been postponed, due to a problem with one of the Space Launch System‘s (SLS) rocket engines. (Above: A sunrise photo of Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center with the SLS rocket + the Orion spacecraft waiting for the launch earlier today. Photo is courtesy of NASA / Zoel Kowsky.)
With NASA expected to deliver an update later today regarding this mishap, what is known is that one of the four RS-25 engines that power the Space Launch System (SLS) that will lift the Orion spacecraft and the Artemis payload to the moon suffered an engine bleed that was discovered by the misson’s launch team. Attempts to correct the bleed were unsuccessful and the launch window of two hours melted away.
With the moon remaining in Artemis’ sights, a launch opportunity does remain for Friday, September 2nd., although whether that remains a possibility is unknown as of this writing.