NASA and Boeing engineers are evaluating how to proceed with the final test Space launch system (SLS) Megharb ockett off the moon after an initial shutdown during a “wet dress rehearsal” on Sunday (December 20).
The launch date of Artemis 1 is in jeopardy, the first flight of NASA’s program to land humans on the moon by 2024. Based on timely and successful testing of SLS Before the rocket travels to Florida for final construction and launch.
The test campaign has been slowed down by precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and by hurricane defeats in the Gulf of Mexico. Earlier this month, the team managed to move past Problems with ground equipment in propellant loading, Rocket tanks equipped with 700,000 gallons (2.6 million liters) of liquid oxygen and hydrogen. While the main phase “performed well” with propellant loading and refilling at NASA’s Stanislaus Space Center in Mississippi, the test ended unexpectedly early, according to a NASA statement.
Photos: NASA’s 1st SLS Magrocket for the Moon has its engines on the core stage
“Part of the test was to simulate a countdown from tanks leading to 33 seconds before the engine fired,” NASA officials wrote. In a blog post published on Monday (December 21).
“However, the test ended a few minutes after the scheduled calculation period. The main phase and B-2 test stand are in excellent condition, and that does not appear to be an issue in the hardware. The team is evaluating the data to pinpoint the exact cause of the initial shutdown.”
After NASA completes this dress rehearsal, SLS will then conduct a “Hot Fire” test, during which all four of the rocket’s engines will be fired at the same time, to make sure they are set for spacefight. The agency has not outlined its options The test plan If more work is required for the preparation of the SLS for the flight.
NASA’s challenges in finding humans to land on the moon by 2024 are not just related to SLS. The agency is also facing funding issues for its Human Lending System (HLS) program in its 2121 billion fiscal year 2021 budget. H.L.S. Only 8 850 million was received, a quarter of the administration’s 3. 3.3 billion request.; That said, the Orion spacecraft, SLS and research ground systems were within or above NASA’s requested budget for those elements.
Agency Director Jim Bridenstein told the National Space Council on Dec. 9 that NASA would likely need its full HLS budget request to create a timely lunar-landing deadline. “Ultimately, if we don’t get 3. 3.3 billion, it’s getting increasingly difficult.”
Timely lunar landings will also depend on the completion of all technical tests for the lunar system associated with NASA. New spacesuit to protect astronauts on the lunar surface. Earlier this month, the agency Put 18 astronauts on the shortlist for lunar missions; In addition, this The Canadian Space Agency has pledged that one of its four early astronauts, the Artemis 2 crew, will join a lunar orbit mission. Scheduled for 2023.
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