Artemis I mega moon rocket has reached a new milestone on Monday after facing a lot of challenges.
The latest journey started on Saturday, and two days were needed to hit the epic goal.
This was a huge moment, the first time that NASA was able to fully fuel Artemis I mega moon rocket.
A fuel line leak slowed the process, but NASA opted to move ahead with the critical countdown test.
The very important test is known as “wet dress rehearsal.” It was the fourth attempt at trying to get through this very critical stage.
In April, the previous attempts failed after several problems surfaced. The issues included a fuel leak, stuck valves, and many other technical challenges.
Artemis I moon rocket overcomes challenges to hit an important milestone
A leaking problem also complicated the situation on Monday. However, the managers chose to handle the situation differently and move forward.
The bold decision made the final countdown test possible. For NASA launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, it was the right moment to test the team and the hardware.
Moreover, he was pleased to report that both of them rose to the occasion and answered the call of history.
Things got quite tense because engineers had decided to push the testing through the 9-second mark before launch to validate the entire procedure.
However, at the 29-second mark, the countdown stopped, and no one has managed to explain why this happened.
What is a NASA “wet dress rehearsal”?
As previously stated, the “wet dress rehearsal” is an essential step in a lengthy process. It can be defined as the last and final test before a scheduled launch.
This is what happened at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the last few days. While the rocket never left the launchpad, every central element of a launch was recreated and revisited. The goal, of course, is to get as close as possible to the real thing.
Object 1
During a test like this one, the team goes through propellant loading while the Artemis I rocket systems get exposed to cryogenics.
Moreover, experts in the field say the “wet dress rehearsal” is an opportunity to revisit countdown procedures. Furthermore, the test is also used to validate important models and programming interfaces.
After the latest milestone, many people are curious to know what is coming next for the program. It is
at a critical juncture in a world that is changing, and many new players are trying to get a bigger piece of the pie.
What is the next step for NASA?
People involved in the program are not talking too much about what is coming next. However, it is safe to say that they have their eye on 2024 and 2025.
Before those dates, they hope to push the launch of an empty Orion capsule in the month of August.
This is not certain because managers have faced a lot of delays in recent months.
This launch is very important because astronauts cannot climb aboard before it is completed.
In clear, a second SLS flight is set for 2024. The goal here is to send a crew around the moon. In 2025, a third mission would land the astronauts on the moon.
The last time astronauts did something similar, it was in the year 1972.
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