posted 11-07-2022 02:18 PM               

NASA is working with the Space Force and the National Hurricane Center to monitor Subtropical Storm Nicole. Kennedy Space Center is currently in a HURCON IV status, which includes implementing checklists and preparations for the storm as the agency continues to prioritize its employees in the Kennedy area.

Based on current forecast data, managers have determined the Space Launch System rocket and Orion will remain at Launch Pad 39B. Teams at Kennedy will continue to monitor the weather, make sure all personnel are safe, and will evaluate the status of the Monday, Nov. 14, launch attempt for the Artemis I mission as we proceed and receive updated predictions about the weather.

posted 11-10-2022 03:55 PM               

Peak conditions for Nicole have passed at NASA Kennedy and our focus is now on our employees and then getting back into launch operations. Many people are without power and have experienced high winds and broken tree branches at their homes. Teams monitored SLS and Orion remotely during the storm and successfully maintained purges and other essential support. While wind sensors at the launch pad detected peak wind gusts up to 82 mph (71 knots) at the 60-foot level, this is within the rocket's capability. We anticipate clearing the vehicle for those conditions shortly.

Our team is conducting initial visual check-outs of the rocket, spacecraft and ground system equipment with the cameras at the launch pad. Camera inspections show very minor damage such as loose caulk and tears in weather coverings. The team will conduct additional onsite walk down inspections of the vehicle soon.

We took the decision to keep Orion and SLS at the launch pad very seriously, reviewing the data in front of us and making the best decision possible with high uncertainty in predicting the weather four days out. With the unexpected change to the forecast, returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building was deemed to be too risky in high winds and the team decided the launch pad was the safest place for the rocket to weather the storm.

We are grateful to the Space Force, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center for their continued and steadfast support with valuable data that helps us make informed decisions and proves that the science we'll conduct on Artemis starts right here on planet Earth.

posted 11-11-2022 03:12 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Gordon Eliot Reade:
Is launch still set for the 16th?

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The winds were measured at several levels on the Space Launch System (SLS) and they did not exceed the certification limits for each. The vehicle and its ground support equipment, though, did suffer some minor damage, which is in work to correct now.

There's some loose RTV [silicone] on the Orion that they're probably going to snip off. They can reach reach it to snip it off from the Crew Access Arm it looks like. and probably disposition to not replace it. It may be too difficult from where we're at. And of course we'll look at the risk of not replacing it.

There was a tear in one of the engine rain covers that we're going to be able to fix and some water in the Crew Access Arm that we're able to take care of. Those three things I think are are behind us.

We did have one of the umbilicals to Orion come off its tray. They sit in a tray to stay aligned. And I'm hopeful that we can get the picture out there of the folks going out on the Orion umbilical arm to move that tray back.

We do have an issue on the ground side of one of the electrical umbilicals for the hydrogen tail service mast that was exhibiting some erratic signals. The team was out on the pad and taking it apart to conduct visual inspections and figure out what the issue is there and what we might need to do in terms of replacing that harness. We do have a backup harness that we are able to use if it is to be replaced.

posted 11-11-2022 07:11 PM               

That said, from Eric Berger of Ars Technica (who also runs Space City Weather):

As NASA is pressing ahead toward an Artemis I launch attempt on Nov. 16, here's an early glance at weather: It looks really good. Temperatures in the upper 60s, light winds, partly to mostly clear skies. Chance of rain is less than 5 percent.

posted 11-12-2022 11:04 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The 45th Weather Squadron doesn't issue official launch forecasts until L-4 days.

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posted 11-12-2022 02:55 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
I guess one thing we'll find out is if Orion thrusters are better designed to deal with severe rain than Starliner thrusters are.

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posted 11-13-2022 07:57 PM               

The team is currently working two issues, as described by MMT chair Mike Sarafin:

The two issues that got the most discussion pertain to storm damage, or suspected storm damage, as it relates to Nicole.

The first was on the liquid hydrogen tail service mast umbilical. We have a suspect electrical connector on the tail surface mast umbilical. The cable carries some information that is used to confirm a subset of the launch commit criteria on day of launch.

We do have redundant signals that are used to confirm those launch commit criteria, but the team is trying to restore us back to a normal baseline through some work tonight out the launch pad.

The other open item and the action that pertains to the meeting today and is going to cause us to get back together for a launch minus one day review has to do with some room temperature vulcanization or RTV material that has been de-laminated from the eastern side of the Orion spacecraft where the launch abort system's aerodynamic shell, called the ogive [pronounced oh-jive], meets up with the crew module adapter.

This RTV material de-laminated during the storm. We need to just spend a little more time to review our flight rationale headed into this launch attempt specifically as it pertains to liberation of any remaining RTV and debris transport, so we're gonna get back together tomorrow.

...

The amount of RTV that came off of Orion at the base of the ogive and at the top of the crew module adapter was an area about 10 feet in length and was centered on what we call the the 270 degree location relative to the Orion structure. That was basically the windward side when the storm blew through.

It is a very, very thin layer of RTV. It's about 0.21 inches in thickness.

posted 11-14-2022 06:38 PM               

In terms of the two issues that that we reviewed today at the launch minus one day mission management team meeting, I would say that we're comfortable flying as is in both of those cases.

We did attempt to fully resolve the electrical connector on the tail service mast umbilical and we're still seeing some funnies on that particular umbilical. But we reviewed the fact that we have redundant data that comes across that interface from the rocket and the spacecraft to the ground side, as well as the delamination of the RTV material.

I would say, at this point in time we are more confident than we have ever been in our loading procedures and how to do it in such a way that puts the least amount of pressure on the seals and to really try and keep in class.

posted 11-15-2022 08:41 AM               

From NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, live coverage with commentary of tanking operations to load propellant into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Nov. 16 launch of the Artemis I flight test.

Live coverage is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT).

posted 11-15-2022 02:31 PM               

NASA's Artemis I Guests

Among the invited guests anticipated on-site for NASA's Artemis I launch are friends and family of agency leadership, members of Congress, and other government representatives including:

• Former NASA leaders Steve Jurczyk and Robert Lightfoot
  
• Gen. Jon W. "Jay" Raymond, U.S. Space Force
  
• Mark Armstrong, son of Apollo Astronaut Neil Armstrong
  
• Congressman Darren Soto
  
• Former Congressman John Culberson
  
• Paralympian Danielle Hansen

Representatives from additional federal agencies includes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Representatives from each of our commercial partners include Boeing, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Teledyne, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

International representation includes Floreta Fabor, Albanian ambassador to the United States, as well as Carlos Moura, president of the Brazilian Space Agency.

Finally, NASA also has representatives from a number of its external partners including Peanuts, LEGO, and others.

NASA is expecting about 15,000 guests on-site for this attempt. The space agency also credentialed 700 media and 80 social media members.

posted 11-15-2022 08:29 PM               

The launch team is tracking an intermittent leak on the core stage replenish valve, this is on the hydrogen side. Location is at the base of the mobile launcher.

The team reporting to the NASA Test Director it's going in and out of leak measurement. Momentarily it spiked to one and a half percent, but then came back down and they continue to monitor it. Going over 1% is the violation. It was only there for a short period of time came back down.

The 1% violation mark, as I understand from the engineers, is because this is an open air sensor, different from the closed volume sensors on the previous leaks, if you may recall from the previous launch attempts.

posted 11-15-2022 08:58 PM               

Here's the plan: The launch team is going to send two technicians with a safety lead to compartment AB-12 — that's on the side of the mobile launcher — to torque packing nuts to resolve the intermittent leak.

The techs will take two vehicles and drive up the pad surface. They'll exit their vehicles, go up the stairs to the zero deck, then downstairs to the location where the valve is and then torque the packing nuts. The red crew says it should take them about 15 minutes to do. Then they would return to their vehicles from the route that they came in on.

Emergency services and EMS have been notified along with pad rescue and they are standing by for the start of this operation.

posted 11-15-2022 09:29 PM               

Watch live as our mega Moon rocket launches an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a six-week mission around the Moon and back to Earth. NASA is targeting Wednesday, Nov. 16, for the launch of the Artemis I Moon mission during a two-hour launch window that opens at 1:04 a.m. EST (0604 UTC).

posted 11-15-2022 10:02 PM               

The work that happened was tightening down the bolts on a leaky replenish valve on the liquid hydrogen side that feeds the core stage.

They cycled the torquing of the bolts as the launch team cycled the valves.

posted 11-15-2022 10:28 PM               

Meanwhile, the range is now no go for launch. Per NASA commentator Derrol Nail:

The range has advised the NASA Test Director that one of their assets required for launch is down and so as a result, the range is no go at this moment due to a lost signal at their radar site.

The range is working on the issue and the test director has asked the range to keep them updated.

posted 11-15-2022 10:43 PM               

The problem with the radar was actually a bad ethernet switch. The range is currently working to change it out. The range is reporting that it should take about 70 minutes to perform that work.

posted 11-15-2022 10:56 PM               

The upper stage of the rocket is now in liquid hydrogen fast fill, currently at 58% filled. The core stage liquid hydrogen is in replenish.

On the liquid oxygen side, the core stage and upper stage are in stable replenish.

posted 11-16-2022 12:01 AM               

Upper stage liquid hydrogen is now in "topping." The Range Safety Officer is testing the Flight Termination System (FTS).

The launch team is determining our new launch time.

posted 11-16-2022 12:05 AM               

We are now in replenish mode on the upper stage for both liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. We remain in a hold.