Fuel leak interferes with NASA’s lunar rocket dress rehearsal
NASA’s latest attempt to burn a giant lunar rocket for a countdown test was thwarted by a dangerous hydrogen leak, the latest in a series of nasty equipment problems.
When the leak occurred, the launch crew had just begun to fuel the rocket’s core stage. This was NASA’s third take during a dress rehearsal, a mandatory step before the test flight to the Moon.
This time, the launch team successfully loaded ultra-low temperature liquid hydrogen and oxygen on the core stage of the 30-deck Space Launch System rocket, but far from reaching full quantities.
A core leak was detected on the tail service mast when migrating to the midrange hydrogen quick fill. The crew paused LH2 and the rocket was in a safe configuration.
— NASA Ground Research System (@NASAGroundSys) April 14, 2022
Liquid hydrogen is extremely dangerous and authorities said the system was checked for leaks prior to testing.
Technicians deliberately left the small upper deck empty after discovering a bad valve last week.
The upper helium valve cannot be replaced until the rocket returns to the Kennedy Space Center hangar.
The previous two countdown attempts were compromised by fan issues and a large manual valve that employees accidentally left the pad closed last week.
Officials said they were evaluating the next step on Twitter.
NASA was targeting the launch of a 322-foot SLS rocket in June. The empty Orion capsule at the top is sent around the moon in a 4-6 week mission.
Astronauts will head for a second test flight around the Moon, scheduled for 2024. As early as 2025, the first astronauts to land on the moon since 1972.
NASA will announce teams for these two missions this summer.
Source: Belfasttelegraph
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