SLS / Orion - Tests, Launches, & Developments

zanl188 · Sat Aug 06, 2022 7:01 pm

Artemis I preview…

https://youtu.be/K5ovFY175zo

Avatar2go · Sat Aug 06, 2022 8:20 pm

In the two Artemis media conferences this week, everything is on schedule with no significant problems. They need an extension from range safety on the certification of the flight certification system, to have a third launch attempt on September 5th (Labor Day), if needed.

Rollout still on August 18th and launch still scheduled for August 29th, September 2nd, or September 5th. All 42 day missions.

Dufo · Fri Aug 12, 2022 8:22 am

As my travelmate could not get US visa in time, I am selling one Artemis 1 launch "feel the heat" KSC ticket for the original listed price of 270$. It includes 2-day access to KSC, viewing from 3.5miles away, meal, souvernirs..

Avatar2go · Sat Aug 13, 2022 12:37 am

The Range Safety office has formally granted an extension of the Artemis flight termination system certification, from 20 to 25 days. That allows NASA to utilize all 3 launch windows in the launch period, with a small margin for delays.

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:06 am

NASA is considering moving up the rollout of Artemis, to 6 pm ET Tuesday, due to faster than expected progress in preparation and closeout. Launch window is unchanged, beginning on August 29th.

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:29 pm

Now confirmed rollout will be 9 pm ET tomorrow, Tuesday August 16th.

nycbjr · Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:38 pm

Avatar2go wrote:
Now confirmed rollout will be 9 pm ET tomorrow, Tuesday August 16th.

Awesome, starting to really get excited for this!! The boondoggle might have wings yet!
*note I don't feel it was/is a boondoggle!

flyingturtle · Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:28 pm

And the broken engines of the Space Shuttle were forged again...

Avatar2go · Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:28 pm

Artemis rocket rolling out tonight at 9 pm ET. They are working one small issue on the mobile launcher, which they will fix on the pad. But otherwise everything looking good for August 29 launch.

Avatar2go · Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:19 pm

The wizards at NASA launched the Moon from pad 39B, then sent Artemis there to summon the sunrise.

https://vxtwitter.com/NASAGroundSys/sta ... 1242384386

BEG2IAH · Thu Aug 18, 2022 2:49 pm

Avatar2go wrote:
The wizards at NASA launched the Moon from pad 39B, then sent Artemis there to summon the sunrise.

https://vxtwitter.com/NASAGroundSys/sta ... 1242384386

Thanks for sharing. This is extremely cool!

Aaron747 · Fri Aug 19, 2022 1:55 am

flyingturtle wrote:
And the broken engines of the Space Shuttle were forged again...

Are you referring to the SSMEs?

Actually the first few flights are using RS-25D units that were built and used in the STS system and have had various upgrades implemented for use in SLS.

flyingturtle · Fri Aug 19, 2022 4:55 pm

Aaron747 wrote:
flyingturtle wrote:
And the broken engines of the Space Shuttle were forged again...

Are you referring to the SSMEs?

yes, and to The Lord of the Rings

nycbjr · Fri Aug 19, 2022 5:12 pm

flyingturtle wrote:
Aaron747 wrote:
flyingturtle wrote:
And the broken engines of the Space Shuttle were forged again...

Are you referring to the SSMEs?

yes, and to The Lord of the Rings

LOL IC what you did there!

Avatar2go · Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:02 am

NASA held it's Flight Readiness Review today to approve the Artemis 1 launch. First launch opportunity 8:33 am ET next Monday August 29th.

No open issues and no objections raised in the all day meeting. Still work remaining at the pad to prepare for launch. The last PSET and hydrazine loading of the SRBs remain at the pad. Orion hatch is closed but will be opened one last time to check before launch, and install Snoopy (loss of gravity indicator).

The countdown has been adjusted to include an early test of the hydrogen kickstart step that was skipped in WDR, due to the leaky bleed line. They will ensure that is working before entering terminal count.

The long mission profile of over 40 days will stress the service module which is certified for 21 days. Orion is certified for 21 days of life support, but is rated for many months of space flight (originally designed for Mars).

zanl188 · Wed Aug 24, 2022 11:26 pm

NASA PR campaign for Artemis 1 ramps up:

https://youtu.be/wKwoBudYIiI

Avatar2go · Thu Aug 25, 2022 1:07 am

Interest is really building in this launch. They are now expecting over 200,000 people, and are warning that last-minute travelers probably won't get good viewing spots. All the main viewing spaces are at capacity. Also recommending to be in place by midnight and be prepared to stay until noon, due to heavy crowds and traffic.

Avatar2go · Sat Aug 27, 2022 1:00 am

Steady stream of Artemis 1 events on the NASA Live web site/stream starts tomorrow.

Saturday
11 am: Post-mission activity briefing
2:30 pm: Pre-launch Moon-to-Mars briefing

Sunday
9 am: Countdown status briefing

Monday
12 am: Fueling coverage begins
6:30 am: Launch coverage begins
12 pm: Post launch briefing
4 pm: TLI burn coverage
5:30 pm: First Orion image of leaving Earth

https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

krisyyz · Sat Aug 27, 2022 1:25 am

I just checked the weather for the Cape, not looking good. Thunderstorms and heavy rain for the next few days.

KrisYYZ

Avatar2go · Sat Aug 27, 2022 1:42 am

krisyyz wrote:
I just checked the weather for the Cape, not looking good. Thunderstorms and heavy rain for the next few days.

KrisYYZ

Latest KSC weather office report is 70% chance of clear weather for the 2 hour launch window on Monday morning.

Florida August/September weather is generally clear in morning but random thunderstorms in the afternoon, which die out in evening. So they will start fueling around midnight and try to launch early on Monday.

Weather cancellation is always possible. Next opportunity is Sept 2.

Aaron747 · Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:44 am

flyingturtle wrote:
Aaron747 wrote:
flyingturtle wrote:
And the broken engines of the Space Shuttle were forged again...

Are you referring to the SSMEs?

yes, and to The Lord of the Rings

LOL sorry that went over my head on first read. Nicely done!

Aaron747 · Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:45 am

krisyyz wrote:
I just checked the weather for the Cape, not looking good. Thunderstorms and heavy rain for the next few days.

KrisYYZ

Standard FL forecast this time of year - the KSC people know the patterns like clockwork.

zanl188 · Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:35 pm

Call to Stations has been accomplished and the countdown clock is operating for Artemis 1.

zanl188 · Sat Aug 27, 2022 4:54 pm

Artemis 1 Mission Managers press briefing this morning: https://youtu.be/qdGdpfgjNyM

Avatar2go · Sat Aug 27, 2022 5:32 pm

zanl188 wrote:
Artemis 1 Mission Managers press briefing this morning: https://youtu.be/qdGdpfgjNyM

Said they are working one communications issue and have made a change to the communications plan, to deal with a potential outage. Otherwise green across the board.

Forecast is still 70% chance of good launch weather for Monday. They are watching tropical storm formation that could potentially impact the backup date of September 2.

Avatar2go · Sun Aug 28, 2022 2:55 pm

As of this morning, NASA is working a possible small helium leak in the ground supply system, which is being investigated by the helium vendor. But not a concern for launch.

Lightning strikes on the pad yesterday were investigated, and no issues were found. The lightning protection system continues to work well.

Artemis launch countdown is proceeding on schedule with all systems green.

Aaron747 · Sun Aug 28, 2022 4:25 pm

Soooo stoked - hope they are able to use the first window.

Avatar2go · Sun Aug 28, 2022 7:00 pm

Weather is currently at 80% favorable for opening of launch window, declining during the two hours to 60%.

BEG2IAH · Mon Aug 29, 2022 4:38 am

A storm to the south, southwest could produce lightning and this could affect the cryo loading. Upper and center stage tanks are prechilled and ready to be loaded once the situation with the approaching storm is clear. The 20% chance of lightning within 5 NM of launch pad constraint not currently met, so tanking is on hold.

BEG2IAH · Mon Aug 29, 2022 5:15 am

Go for tanking! Now below 20% threshold of lightning 5 NM miles of the pad within the first hour of the tanking.

Aaron747 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:10 am

LH2 fueling stopped at 7%....no reason given as of yet.

Update: a leak detected near the mast, and they are looking into it

BEG2IAH · Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:14 am

Aaron747 wrote:
LH2 fueling stopped at 7%....no reason given as of yet.

Looks like there is a leak on the line. Also, due to structural load constraint, LOX can't go above 50% full if LH2 stays at 7% and continues to boil off towards the lower limit of 5%.

Aaron747 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:21 am

BEG2IAH wrote:
Aaron747 wrote:
LH2 fueling stopped at 7%....no reason given as of yet.

Looks like there is a leak on the line. Also, due to structural load constraint, LOX can't go above 50% full if LH2 stays at 7% and continues to boil off towards the lower limit of 5%.

And this is why liquid fuels are annoying haha...

FGITD · Mon Aug 29, 2022 8:57 am

They’ve been given the go with upper stage tanking.

I always feel for the crews in charge of those areas. You just know they tested and checked everything a hundred times over, only got there to be a slight problem in the run up to the big show.

At any rate…just a few hours away

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 10:51 am

Artemis update: NASA launch coverage delayed due to 2 outstanding issues. One engine is not cooling down to the right temperature, and there is an unexpected frost line at one of the rocket joints.

Other issues encountered were the weather with lightning risks, and a brief hydrogen leak that developed at the transition to fast fill. The storms dissipated and they conditioned the line to eliminate the leak. Tanking is at 97% currently.

The plan now is to force all the venting through the engine that is too warm (#3). That should cool it down.

Didn't work, still troubleshooting. Something is blocking the bleed flow on that engine.

krisyyz · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:00 am

NASA’s live coverage is delayed by 15 minutes.

KrisYYZ

Aaron747 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:05 am

krisyyz wrote:
NASA’s live coverage is delayed by 15 minutes.

KrisYYZ

Delay is now 35 min by my count

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:06 am

The bleed obstruction is on the LH2 side of engine #3. LOX side bleed is working ok

Aaron747 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:23 am

T-40 min hold just implemented

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:32 am

Launch countdown hold at T-40 minutes while they formulate a plan to resolve the #3 engine LH2 bleed issue.

The engine must be in the "start box" (correct temperature & pressure) to properly ignite and fire. The bleed of LH2 and LOX conditions the engine and drives the temperature into the box.

Frost line is ice forming in a crevice of the foam. The crevice is a thermal contraction stress crack that develops in the SOFI. Happened on the shuttle ET as well.

zanl188 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:40 am

Avatar2go wrote:

Frost line is ice forming in a crevice of the foam. The crevice is a thermal contraction stress crack that develops in the SOFI. Happened on the shuttle ET as well.

“Cryo pumping”

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:53 am

They really just need to get the engine started. After start, the bleed is dumped into the engine exhaust, so no obstruction.

Question is if they can get the engine into the start box in some way.

zanl188 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:08 pm

Aaron747 wrote:
krisyyz wrote:
NASA’s live coverage is delayed by 15 minutes.

KrisYYZ

Delay is now 35 min by my count

NASA TV is spot on at my location. Keep in mind the NASA clock allows for built in holds.

Regarding RS25 #3 bleed issue: I don’t recall this being an issue during the green run. Is the bleed system legacy shuttle hardware or is it new for SLS?

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:09 pm

Bleed system is not new. It's likely to be a ground side issue. The LH2 bleed flow from engine #3 to the flare stack is impeded somehow.

zanl188 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:17 pm

Avatar2go wrote:
Bleed system is not new. It's likely to be a ground side issue. The LH2 bleed flow from engine #3 to the flare stack is impeded somehow.

Aha! Must be new if ground side. Mobile launcher is new for SLS. And also not used for green run.

JetBuddy · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:35 pm

Is there a way to increase LOX flow to the #3 engine to get it into "start box" temperature range?

*edit*

Launch is scrubbed. Next opportunity on Friday.

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:38 pm

Scrub called for today. They will use today to continue data acquisition to understand the issue. Next launch opportunity on Friday.

Aaron747 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:38 pm

Awww man, let's try again Friday!

Avatar2go · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:44 pm

Yeah, I feel bad for all the people that traveled for the launch today. So close and yet so far.

zanl188 · Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:48 pm

Avatar2go wrote:
Yeah, I feel bad for all the people that traveled for the launch today.

Summer time Florida launch of a new vehicle - scrub is almost inevitable.

This is why they test.

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