NASA - ARTEMIS 1 Mission patch.
Aug. 29, 2022
Engineers Troubleshooting Engine Conditioning Issue
While liquid oxygen loading into the interim cryogenic propulsion stage continues and core stage tanks continue to be replenished with propellants, engineers are troubleshooting an issue conditioning one of the RS-25 engines (engine 3) on the bottom of the core stage. Launch controllers condition the engines by increasing pressure on the core stage tanks to bleed some of the cryogenic propellant to the engines to get them to the proper temperature range to start them. Engine 3 is not properly being conditioned through the bleed process, and engineers are troubleshooting.
Teams also are assessing what appears to be a crack in the thermal protection system material on one of the flanges on the core stage. The flanges are connection joints that function like a seam on a shirt, are affixed at the top and bottom of the intertank so the two tanks can be attached to it.
Teams Continue to Hold While Data Gathering Continues
Teams are in a hold in the countdown at T-40 minutes while engineers evaluate why the bleed test to condition the engines was not successful. Engineers are looking at options to gather as much data as possible. The Artemis I rocket and spacecraft are in a stable, safe condition.
Launch Attempt Scrubbed
The launch director halted today’s Artemis I launch attempt at approximately 8:34 a.m. EDT. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft remain in a safe and stable configuration. Launch controllers were continuing to evaluate why a bleed test to get the RS-25 engines on the bottom of the core stage to the proper temperature range for liftoff was not successful, and ran out of time in the two-hour launch window. Engineers are continuing to gather additional data.
Artemis I aborted launch
Related article about launch scrub:
NASA Waves Off First Artemis I Launch Attempt, to Provide Media Update
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-waves-off-first-artemis-i-launch-attempt-to-provide-media-update
Related articles:
Countdown Continues, Teams Confirm No Impacts from Lightning Strikes
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/08/countdown-continues-teams-confirm-no.html
Europe to support Artemis CubeSats in return to the Moon
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/08/europe-to-support-artemis-cubesats-in.html
Artemis I to Launch First-of-a-Kind Deep Space Biology Mission
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/08/artemis-i-to-launch-first-of-kind-deep.html
NASA’s Moon-observing CubeSat Ready for Artemis Launch
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/08/nasas-moon-observing-cubesat-ready-for.html
Artemis I Moon Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad Ahead of Historic Mission
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/08/artemis-i-moon-rocket-arrives-at-launch.html
Related links:
NASA Television: http://www.nasa.gov/live
Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i/
Space Launch System (SLS): https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html
Orion spacecraft: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/orion/index.html
Images, Video, Text, Credits: NASA/Rachel Kraft/NASA TV/SciNews/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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