NASA intends to test the Artemis 1 SLS rocket for the final time before launching it into space in early June. The space agency announced that the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft will be delivered to the launchpad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in early June for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt. A wet dress rehearsal entails performing all launch-day procedures, including propellant loading, without actually launching the mission. This activity aims to identify and resolve any system issues in time for the actual launch.
The launch of the unnamed Artemis 1 mission is expected to be delayed again, with June as the target date for the next test attempt. The ambitious mission to send humans to the moon has been delayed several times. NASA will not send astronauts on the first flight, but the Orion spacecraft will fly around our nearest celestial neighbor to study it.
NASA stated in a blog post that its engineers successfully addressed issues identified during previous SLS rehearsal attempts, such as the liquid hydrogen system leak. “The next wet dress rehearsal is scheduled for about 14 days after the rocket arrives at the pad,” it added. NASA officials have stated that a launch window in August is their goal.
Previous attempts at conducting the wet dress rehearsal had to be either halted or postponed due to technical difficulties. After discovering problems with the helium check valve, the agency initially postponed the final tests scheduled for April 4. A second attempt was thwarted on April 14 when a leak was discovered during liquid hydrogen loading operations. The rocket had to be rolled back to the vehicle assembly building for maintenance.
The SLS is intended to be the most powerful rocket ever built, with the ability to transport more payload to deep space than any other vehicle. NASA intends to use it for human moon and Mars exploration, as well as robotic missions to Saturn and Jupiter.
Go home
Visit our YouTube Page