After a hydrogen leak found on the rocket during a prelaunch test delayed the mission, there is a chance NASA’s Artemis II could still launch in March, as a new wet dress rehearsal in now on the calendar.
After much review by Artemis launch teams, the rocket has been deemed ready for the next prelaunch test before a final launch date is announced. That test, which includes fueling the rocket up to T-33 seconds, is now set for Thursday, Feb. 19.
NASA is preparing for the launch of its Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a historic journey around the moon. Liftoff was originally projected for this month from Kennedy Space Center, but an early February tanking test, known as a wet dress rehearsal, delayed plans. This test was meant to assess the rocket’s readiness — but in turn found a liquid hydrogen leak.
“Considering the issues observed during the lead-up to Artemis I, and the long duration between missions, we should not be surprised there are challenges entering the Artemis II campaign,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a Feb. 14 reply on X (formerly Twitter).
On Feb. 12, NASA engineers performed a confidence test on the rocket, during which they partly loaded the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage tank with liquid hydrogen to evaluate seals replaced within an area of the rocket used for fueling.
However, another issue was found. During the confidence test, teams experienced a problem with ground support equipment which limited the delivery of liquid hydrogen to the rocket. Over the past weekend, engineers purged the line and inspected ground support equipment before replacing a suspected filter.
“The confidence test related to the seals we repaired and replaced after WDR-1 provided a great deal of data, and we observed materially lower leak rates compared to prior observations during WDR-1,” wrote Isaacman. “I would not say something broke that caused the premature end to the test, as much as we observed enough and reached a point where waiting out additional troubleshooting was unnecessary.”
“Over the weekend, teams replaced a filter in ground support equipment that was suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen during a Feb. 12 partial fueling test. The test provided enough data to allow engineers to plan toward a second wet dress rehearsal this week. Engineers have reconnected the line with the new filter and are reestablishing proper environmental conditions,” a Feb. 16 NASA update reads.
The upcoming wet dress rehearsal test has a simulated liftoff time of 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Teams will report to stations at Kennedy Space Center approximately 50 hours prior.
If successful, NASA could announce the launch date shortly afterward. As of current, that liftoff would come no sooner than March 6.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA’s Artemis II mission to see another wet dress rehearsal this week
Reporting by Brooke Edwards, Florida Today / Florida Today
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