NASA Plans to Proceed With Artemis 1 Moon Mission Wet Dress Rehearsal Test This Week

By  //  April 11, 2022

engineers identified issue with helium check valve

NASA is planning to proceed with a modified wet dress rehearsal test focused on using the ground systems at Kennedy to load propellant into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s core stage tanks, with minimal propellant operations on the upper stage. (NASA image)

NASA – NASA is planning to proceed with a modified wet dress rehearsal test focused on using the ground systems at Kennedy to load propellant into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s core stage tanks, with minimal propellant operations on the upper stage.

Due to the time needed to adjust loading procedures, testing is scheduled to resume with call to stations on Tuesday, April 12 and tanking on Thursday, April 14.

NASA had originally planned to resume testing today at Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

In addition to loading propellant, the wet dress rehearsal is an opportunity to refine countdown procedures and validate critical models and software interfaces.

The team achieved many of the wet dress rehearsal objectives during the two prior tests, and the modified test will enable engineers to achieve the remaining test objectives critical to launch success.

Following the previous test run, engineers identified an issue with a helium check valve that was not functioning as expected, requiring changes to the test to ensure the safety of the flight hardware.

NASA plans to launch an uncrewed Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft on an approximately month-long mission around to the moon and then send astronauts back to the moon in 2024, with a landing on the lunar south pole in 2025 or 2026.

NASA plans to launch an uncrewed Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft on an approximately month-long mission around to the moon and then send astronauts back to the moon in 2024, with a landing on the lunar south pole in 2025 or 2026. (NASA image)
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