posted 03-26-2022 10:19 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by oly:
So for the SLS, NASA plans to recover as many gallons of cryogenic liquids as possible by using the new cryogenic IRaS system.

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posted 04-02-2022 06:01 PM               

The launch team is continuing to monitor severe weather in the area surrounding LC-39B. This afternoon, one of the three, nearly 600-foot lightning towers was struck. The lightning protection system works together to protect the rocket from lightning strikes.

The team is currently evaluating next steps and will conduct a series of procedures to make sure no systems were impacted. NASA will provide an update once the team has assessed the intensity of the strike and established a go forward plan.

Despite what it looks like, the strike did not hit the mobile launcher.

Fun fact about our lightning system: we have instrumentation that can pinpoint the exact location and intensity of lightning strikes. No hits to the ML have occurred.

This does not disrupt the count. The launch team has begun pre-planned troubleshooting procedures and will continue to work through them as the countdown continues.

posted 04-02-2022 09:24 PM               

Engineers confirmed there were four lightning strikes to the lightning towers within the perimeter of Launch Pad 39B.

Teams have determined the first three were low intensity strikes to tower two and are continuing to review data from the fourth strike, which was higher in intensity to tower one. At the time of the strikes, Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage were powered up and the solid rocket boosters and interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) were not.

Teams currently see no constraints to proceeding with the test countdown timeline as planned and will continue procedures to power up the SLS boosters and ICPS overnight.

Overnight, engineers will also work to make up time for activities that were paused due to the severe weather. The Mission Management Team will review the schedule and data from the power ups and sensors at the pad at a 6 a.m. EDT tanking meeting before making the decision to proceed with the test.

posted 04-03-2022 10:02 AM               

Team has been given a go for cryo loading and is now into pre ops. There are a number of automated monitors that are linked to the clock so it will get resynced over the next hour before it starts actually counting down beyond T-6 hours.

We are fortunate to have this flexibility during today's test, but would operate differently on launch day.

New targeted test T-0 is 6:10 p.m. EDT.

posted 04-03-2022 10:20 AM               

There is an issue with the prime and redundant supply fans for ML pressurization. Team is holding on cryo flow to troubleshoot and evaluate a path forward.

posted 04-03-2022 11:26 AM               

Wet dress rehearsal is scrubbed for today.

We are unable to provide positive pressure to the enclosed areas within the mobile launcher and keep out hazardous gases. Technicians are unable to safely proceed with loading without this capability. Looking at a 24 hour turnaround.

posted 04-04-2022 09:16 AM               

Mission Management Team 'Go' to Proceed with Artemis I Wet Dress Rehearsal

At approximately 7:40 a.m. EDT on Monday (April 4), the mission management team chair gave the "go" to proceed with tanking the rocket for the Artemis I wet dress rehearsal test. Later in the countdown the Launch Director will give the "go" to begin the tanking process. Meteorologists with Space Launch Delta 45 said there were no weather constraints for the test.

Teams are continuing to hold the clock to resolve an outage with the vendor of gaseous nitrogen required for tanking preparations. Nitrogen is used to prepare for, and during tanking operations, to provide a non-flammable environment inside of the SLS. When the issue is resolved, the countdown clock will pick back up with T-6 hours, 40 minutes on the clock (L-7 hours, 20 minutes) remaining in the countdown, beginning with chilling down the liquid oxygen lines for the core stage.

Once propellant loading operations begin, liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) will flow into the into the rocket's core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage tanks and be topped off and replenished as some of cryogenic propellant boils off. The team will also conduct leak checks to ensure propellant loading is proceeding as expected.

posted 04-04-2022 10:00 AM               

Artemis I WDR Countdown Resumes

The countdown for the wet dress rehearsal has resumed at 10:52 a.m. EDT and clocks have picked back up at T-6 hours, 40 minutes on the clock (L-7 hours, 20 minutes). A new planned T-0 of 6:02 p.m. has been established.

An earlier issue with an outage with the vendor of gaseous nitrogen required for tanking preparations has been resolved. Overnight, teams also resolved the issue with the malfunction of the fans used to provide positive pressure to enclosed areas in the mobile launcher and keep out hazardous gases, and they have a plan for operating the fans to prevent issues from reoccurring. The team was able to successfully bring up and run the primary fan through the night to provide confidence, and has configured the secondary fan to run at 80% capacity to support tanking operations.

posted 04-04-2022 11:48 AM               

There is no substitute for testing with flight hardware vs. models. As we got into MPS chilldowns, we ran up against a temperature limit for the LOX ahead of flowing into core stage. Team is working through updating procedures and adjusting pressures based on data on console.

The countdown clock is continuing for now and the test team will assess where to resync after the team reconfigures loading procedures.

posted 04-04-2022 01:48 PM               

LOX team has reworked procedures and is back into chilldown. Team is pressing and using every operation as test objective risk buy down.

Clock will be resynced later... It allows us to configure other systems on the vehicle not related to cryo per the timeline.

Just prior to sending liquid hydrogen (LH2) into the vehicle the team was unable to open a necessary vent valve on the 160 level of the mobile launcher. Teams are looking at options to present to the Launch Director.

posted 04-04-2022 04:15 PM               

Due the vent valve issue, the launch director has called off the test for the day.

The team is preparing to offload LOX and will begin discussing how quickly the vehicle can be turned around for the next attempt. A lot of great learning and progress today.

posted 04-04-2022 04:49 PM               

Today the test proceeded further in the countdown. LOX loading was about 50 percent complete. LH2 loading had not yet begun because of the valve issue, which ultimately scrubbed the test for the day.

posted 04-04-2022 08:00 PM               

The problems included cables, fuel cells, a compressor, computers, stage batteries, a helium regulator, a probe measuring the fill rate of LOX, and broken sump baffles in the S-II stage. Baffle plates had to be removed and replaced.

The 104-hour countdown began Oct. 30th with two pre-planned holds and another lasting two hours needed to check out the range safety command system.

posted 04-06-2022 09:14 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
...with multiple interior and exterior pointed HD cameras

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posted 04-09-2022 08:43 AM               

Artemis I Wet Dress Rehearsal Update

NASA is planning to proceed with a modified wet dress rehearsal, primarily focused on tanking the core stage, and minimal propellant operations on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) with the ground systems at Kennedy. Due to the changes in loading procedures required for the modified test, wet dress rehearsal testing is slated to resume with call to stations on Tuesday, April 12 and tanking on Thursday, April 14. Wet dress rehearsal is an opportunity to refine the countdown procedures and validate critical models and software interfaces. The modified test will enable engineers to achieve the test objectives critical to launch success.

Engineers have identified a helium check valve that is not functioning as expected, requiring these changes to ensure safety of the flight hardware. Helium is used for several different operations, including purging the engine, or clearing the lines, prior to loading propellants during tanking, as well as draining propellant. A check valve is a type of valve that allows liquid or gas to flow in a particular direction and prevents backflow. The helium check valve is about three inches long and prevents the helium from flowing back out of the rocket.

Following the modified test, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will return to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) where engineers will evaluate the valve and replace if needed. Teams are confident in the ability to replace the valve once back in the VAB.

posted 04-14-2022 03:41 PM               

During an attempt to transition to fast fill for core stage hydrogen a leak was identified in the tail service mast umbilical. Teams have paused LH2 and the rocket is currently in a safe configuration.

Under the unique operating conditions with the rocket we are prepared and know leaks are a realistic possibility. We have amazing hazardous gas and leak detection systems that keep the rocket safe and alert us to conditions outside of normal parameters.

Hydrogen is extremely hazardous, cold, and a small molecule that is known for leaking. All of these systems have been sealed, leak checked and tested to the highest extent possible prior to wet dress rehearsal.

The launch director has given approval for the team to proceed with operations to chilldown the ICPS LH2 lines to collect additional data. Engineers do not plan to load LH2 or LOX into the ICPS tanks.

The team will keep the core stage LH2 tank at about 5% and the core stage LOX loading will remain stopped. The team will not conduct the terminal countdown activities today as planned and will assess next steps after today's operations.

posted 04-25-2022 12:50 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
Heavy thunderstorms can happen anytime of the year in the south so to me neither would be a driver.

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posted 05-03-2022 01:05 PM               

On this uncrewed test flight, it will be the twin measuring mannequins Helga and Zohar on board the Orion capsule. The MARE experiment devised by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), will use two identical 'phantoms' representative of the female body to investigate radiation exposure throughout the flight, which may last up to six weeks. The mission is vital in light of NASA's plan to send the first woman to the Moon during the Artemis programme.

Researchers at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne developed the experiment and have now delivered it to NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for installation. A new radiation protection vest also forms part of the experiment and will undergo testing. Artemis I is now planned to launch in summer 2022. The assembly and installation of the measuring mannequins is scheduled to take place approximately four weeks before the launch.