SLS test launch scrubbed again
NASA engineers once again were forced to scrub the launch of the SLS rocket today due to another hydrogen leak during fueling.
The launch director waived off today’s Artemis I launch attempt at approximately 11:17 a.m. EDT. Teams encountered a liquid hydrogen leak while loading the propellant into the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket. Multiple troubleshooting efforts to address the area of the leak by reseating a seal in the quick disconnect where liquid hydrogen is fed into the rocket did not fix the issue.
NASA has one more chance, on September 5th, to launch this rocket before it must return it to the assembly building to replace the flight termination batteries, used to abort the launch after liftoff should something go seriously wrong during flight. As I understand it, their use-by date is September 6th, and it would require a major safety waiver by the military range officer, who is entirely independent from NASA and under no obligation to it, to allow for a launch after that date with those batteries.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
NASA engineers once again were forced to scrub the launch of the SLS rocket today due to another hydrogen leak during fueling.
The launch director waived off today’s Artemis I launch attempt at approximately 11:17 a.m. EDT. Teams encountered a liquid hydrogen leak while loading the propellant into the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket. Multiple troubleshooting efforts to address the area of the leak by reseating a seal in the quick disconnect where liquid hydrogen is fed into the rocket did not fix the issue.
NASA has one more chance, on September 5th, to launch this rocket before it must return it to the assembly building to replace the flight termination batteries, used to abort the launch after liftoff should something go seriously wrong during flight. As I understand it, their use-by date is September 6th, and it would require a major safety waiver by the military range officer, who is entirely independent from NASA and under no obligation to it, to allow for a launch after that date with those batteries.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Do I look surprised?
I would have been had it launched. Happy but surprised.
“…their use-by date is September 6th, and it would require a major safety waiver by the military range officer…”
I cannot imagine a military range safety officer setting such a precedent, or being allowed to.
My understanding is that NASA can try Monday if ready, or Tuesday if necessary. Either, not both. If not then, it’s back to the VAB until the October window. The question of the SRB expiry date would also no doubt come up, although at this point I have not heard that there is a stackable set of segments ready and positioned.
Just light the damn thing up and let it go. Explosions are fun too…..and make better headlines.
During my early military flying days a wise LtCol told me the following.
“It is better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than to be flying and wishing you were on the ground”. A truism that has saved me from disaster several times.
“Get It Launched-itis”, like “get home-itis” is the pathway to disaster.
NASA learned that lesson during the Shuttle Program. No one at NASA wants to be that guy.
Jerry:
“It is better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than to be flying and wishing you were on the ground”.
Not a terribly honorable “protect the folks at all costs” take on your voluntary oath to serve and protect.
“I’ll do my duty if it fits my risk aversion.”
Got it.
“
GaryMike: You very unfairly imply that Jerry Greenwood’s comment referred to military duty, when it had absolutely nothing to do with that. You owe him an apology.
Greenwood was simply talking about the need to make sure your plane is flightworthy before taking off. You can’t serve and protect if you are a bad pilot, or a stupid one, and your plane crashes because you didn’t do due diligence beforehand about its operation.
I would add, GaryMike, that it applies to weather, too, or have you forgotten the Challenger disaster?
RZ:
Trusting your judgement:
Jerry,
Please accept my apology. I’m not as smart as I think I am. Many days I do not know what to think of me.
–Gary