CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA fueled its big moon rocket for the primary time Monday and went forward with a crucial countdown check regardless of a gas line leak.
This was NASA’s fourth crack on the all-important gown rehearsal, the final main milestone earlier than the moon rocket’s long-awaited launch debut.
The earlier makes an attempt in April have been thwarted by a gas leak, in addition to caught valves and different technical points.
One other leak — this time in an exterior gas line — virtually curtailed Monday’s check at Kennedy Area Middle. However NASA managers determined to do the countdown check anyway.
Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson stated they pushed forward to see “how the staff carried out, how the {hardware} carried out, and so they each carried out very nicely.”
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Engineers needed to get all the best way right down to the 9-second mark — simply wanting engine firing — to validate all of the methods and procedures. But it surely minimize off at 29 seconds. NASA spokesman Derrol Nail stated it wasn’t instantly identified why the countdown stopped.
Earlier, almost 1 million gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen have been loaded into the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket referred to as the Area Launch System, or SLS.
The testing delays have pushed the precise launch — with an empty Orion capsule flying across the moon and again — to the top of August on the earliest. This check flight is essential earlier than astronauts climb aboard.
Blackwell-Thompson stated it was too early to say what NASA’s subsequent step is perhaps.
The second SLS flight, deliberate for 2024, would ship a crew across the moon and again. The third mission — no sooner than 2025 — would have astronauts really touchdown on the moon.
Astronauts final walked on the moon in 1972 throughout NASA’s Apollo program. The brand new program is known as Artemis, Apollo’s twin sister in Greek mythology.
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