Preparations are underway to begin critical tests of NASA’s spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts around the Moon.
Fuel tests are scheduled to begin on Monday, NASA says. The fueling phase of the pre-launch tests, known as a “wet dress rehearsal,” was delayed due to freezing temperatures at the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Here’s what 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 crew perform spacecraft tests. During this final test, the Orion spacecraft, which will house the astronauts, and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will be checked along a detailed countdown schedule.
A countdown clock started at 8:13 p.m. ET on Saturday, counting down to the takeoff dress rehearsal on Monday night.
On Monday (2), more than 700,000 gallons of fuel containing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are scheduled to be loaded into the rocket. Launch teams will also practice draining the rocket fuel and conduct a launch countdown.
A simulated launch window will begin at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to last until 1 a.m.
The Orion spacecraft was powered up several days ago due to the cold weather, and engineers are preparing to load its flight batteries, NASA said on Sunday.
The Artemis II mission launch opportunity, which was scheduled to occur as early as possible this 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 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.
Artemis II astronauts do not participate in pre-launch tests
NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will not be on board the spacecraft during the tests.
The Artemis II mission astronauts have been in quarantine in Houston since January 23. This is to limit their 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 fly to Kennedy Space Center in Florida six days before launch, where they will live in the astronauts’ crew quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
Source: npr.org by Chandelis Duster