NASA encountered a couple of problems while doing the “wet suit test” of Artemis 1, but it still marked an important milestone when the test was completed. The agency was able to fully power all the propulsion tanks of the space launch system for the first time and was able to proceed with the countdown to the launch of the terminal. “Wet-dressed tests,” as they are called, are tests that simulate the launch of a rocket without the rocket actually lifting. The launch team had to interrupt three previous attempts to power the SLS earlier this year due to several leaks and other issues that have already been fixed.
That attempt was not flawless either: NASA has had to shut down fuel a couple of times since the test began on Saturday. Fuel stopped for the first time Monday morning due to a problem with the rocket’s nitrogen gas supply. The team was able to repair the gas nitrogen line valve, however, and feeding began a couple of hours later. As CNN points out, however, some problems arose just as the team was finishing the feeding process on Monday afternoon. They discovered a hydrogen leak and had to find options to seal it after their first solution failed. In addition, the flares pile, which burns excess liquid hydrogen from the rocket, caused a small fire in the grassy area around the launch site.
In the end, the launch drivers devised a plan to mask the data associated with the leak so as not to cause the launch computer to hold back. This would not fly in a real launch scenario, but they wanted to get as far as possible to the countdown to collect the data they need. They were able to successfully resume the final 10-minute countdown after a prolonged hold and reached T-29 seconds before having to complete the test completely. The launch team initially planned to let the countdown reach T-33 seconds before the launch was supposed to take place. They then intended to restart the timer and repeat the countdown to about T-9 seconds before launch.
Independently, they successfully performed several critical operations required for launch during the test, including the delivery of control from the ground launch sequencer to the automated launch sequencer controlled by the rocket flight software. NASA will now evaluate the test data to determine if it can finally set an official launch date for Artemis 1, which will send an unmanned Orion spacecraft on a mission to fly around the moon, with the earliest date possible in August. . The agency will hold a conference on the test today, June 21, at 11 a.m., and you can watch the live stream on its website.