NASA had to halt a critical refueling test for its Artemis 2 rocket, delaying the launch to orbit the moon by at least a month. The “wet dress rehearsal,” which began on January 31, involved fueling the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with over 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Initially, the procedure started smoothly, but technicians encountered a hydrogen leak from the quick disconnect in the tail service mast.
This leak was reminiscent of issues faced during the Artemis 1 mission, where similar leaks prompted multiple rollbacks for repairs. The Artemis 1 mission successfully launched in November 2022, but preparations for Artemis 2, which aims to test the Orion spacecraft with astronauts, have presented challenges.
NASA officials indicated that most operations reached a successful conclusion despite the leak, managing to fill both stages of the SLS while gathering valuable data. However, they halted the test at T-5 minutes due to increasing hydrogen leakage.
NASA’s team noted that repairs would likely occur on-site rather than needing to return the rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building, unlike past experiences. The source of the recurrent leaks remains unclear, but there are theories suggesting they may relate to the rocket’s rollout and environmental conditions affecting its components. NASA is now targeting a March launch window, following further evaluations and adjustments to address these issues.
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