Artemis I Dress Rehearsal Ends Due to Liquid Hydrogen Leak
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — Teams concluded today’s wet dress rehearsal test at approximately 5:10 p.m. EDT after observing a liquid hydrogen (LH2) leak on the tail service mast umbilical, which is located at the base of the mobile launcher and connects to the rocket’s core stage. The leak was discovered during liquid hydrogen loading operations and prevented the team from completing the test.
Before ending the test, teams also met test objectives for the interim cryogenic propulsion stage by chilling down the lines used to load propellant into the upper stage. They did not flow any propellant to the stage because of an issue with a helium check valve identified several days ago.
When teams paused propellant loading, the rocket’s core stage liquid oxygen tank was about 49% filled and the liquid hydrogen tank had been loaded to about 5% capacity prior to the hydrogen leak.
Teams are now working to drain propellant from the rocket. They will inspect the umbilical connection, review data, and establish a go-forward plan to address the hydrogen leak.
NASA plans to host a media teleconference April 15 to provide updates on troubleshooting and next steps for the wet dress rehearsal test.
17 responses to “Artemis I Dress Rehearsal Ends Due to Liquid Hydrogen Leak”
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Best case scenario:
NASA completes the SLS WDR within the next 2 weeks.
Medium case scenario:
The gremlins plaguing the SLS WDR drags on for more than 2 weeks and forces another postponement to allow NASA Crew-4 to launch on April 28.
Worst case scenario:
SLS WDR experiences gremlin after gremlin, requires pause in testing for Crew-4 and then Starliner OFT-2 in May.
Worst-worst case scenario:
Both SLS WDR and Starliner OFT-2 experiences even more problems and delays. 😛
Place your bets! 🙂
I will be surprised if SLS Flies until the end of the summer new vehicle
New vehicle?
its a new vehicle a lot of bugs. sorry not clear
I’m not betting as I don’t have sufficient insight to the organization. I would put the worst worst as ignoring real problems and flying on more wavers than the vehicle can handle. RUD with collateral damage and casualties would be worst worst.
Next up is the ISS crew mission and Jeff Foust reports that it has priority over the next Artemis WDR. Guess someone with ISS has made it clear that Artemis has messed enough with their schedule.
https://twitter.com/jeff_fo…
I’m going to bet the wurst-wurst käse.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
AIUI. If the SLS WDR drags on beyond May. Then someone will have to decide waiving the solid rocket boosters a second time for launch after late July or de-stacked the boosters.
Oh. My money is on the gremlins, Boeing’s ineptitude is all too clear.
Again, it makes you really wonder why they just didn’t do a cargo only Shuttle C instead of this Frankenstein Rocket. It would have been flying years ago. They could have placed the Orion in orbit as a payload and just transferred the crew using Commercial Crew vehicles – Dragon or Starliner.
Best case scenario: SLS is scrapped
I should edit my original list and add your suggestion as the “best-best case scenario.” 😀
Best to Medium case
Yeah, they seem to be working through it.
I think SpaceX and the SLS forlks are both
Meanwhile BN7 aced its pressure test down Boca Chica while one of the “frighten and endangered” birds mugged for the camera filming it.
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Looks like those of you who picked the worst case scenario win. 😀
Eric Berger hears NASA will roll the SLS back to the VAB and do the repairs and try the WDR again in June, after OFT-2 (hopefully OFT-2 goes off as planned).
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1515500328380162053Here’s hoping my worst-worst concerns are totally wrong. My lack of respect, and actual dislike for the system does not extend to wishing ill on it.