Preparations are underway for the start of critical tests of NASA’s spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a trip around the Moon.
Fuel loading tests are scheduled to begin on Monday, according to NASA. The fuel loading phase of the pre-launch tests, known as the “wet dress rehearsal,” was delayed due to low temperatures at the launch pad located at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Here’s what you need to know about the preparations and the mission.
What exactly is a wet dress rehearsal?
A wet dress rehearsal is a designated period before launch in which engineers and the team conduct tests on the spacecraft. During this final test, the Orion spacecraft, which will house the astronauts, and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will be checked according to a detailed countdown schedule.
A countdown clock started at 8:13 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Saturday, counting down to the simulated launch on Monday night.
On Monday (9th), more than 700,000 gallons of fuel, containing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, will be loaded into the rocket. Launch teams will also practice removing the fuel from the rocket and conduct a countdown to launch.
A simulated launch window will begin at 9 p.m. (Eastern Time) and is expected to last until 1 a.m.
The Orion spacecraft has been powered on for several days due to the cold, and engineers are preparing to load its flight batteries, NASA said on Sunday.
The launch opportunity for the Artemis II mission, which was scheduled as early as next Friday, will now occur no earlier than next Sunday, according to NASA. There are also launch opportunities in March and April.
The mission is scheduled to last 10 days and will send the astronauts around Earth and then around the Moon before returning to Earth. It is the first crewed mission to fly to the Moon in more than 50 years. The Artemis II mission is a step toward the goal of returning humans to the Moon’s surface and, eventually, to Mars.
The Artemis II astronauts will not participate in the pre-launch tests
NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will not be in the spacecraft during the tests. The Artemis II mission astronauts have been in quarantine in Houston since January 23. The goal is to limit exposure to other people and ensure they do not get sick before launch. During quarantine, the astronauts wear masks, avoid public spaces, and maintain contact with family, friends, and colleagues as long as they follow quarantine guidelines, according to NASA.
If the pre-launch tests go well, the astronauts will travel to Kennedy Space Center in Florida six days before launch, where they will stay in the crew quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
Source: npr.org by Chandelis Duster