Engineers are making progress resolving mostly ground-system problems that derailed three earlier attempts to fuel the agency's new Space Launch System moon rocket for a dress rehearsal countdown. NASA managers said Thursday they're hopeful about making a fourth attempt by mid June.
NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket atop pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center before the first of three unsuccessful fueling tests. The rocket and its mobile launch platform are now undergoing repairs and inspections in the Vehicle Assembly Building before a fourth attempt.jammed valve After the test, whenever it occurs, the SLS rocket will be moved back to NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building for servicing before it's returned to the pad for launch on its maiden flight, sending an unpiloted Orion crew capsule beyond the moon and back.
"We are optimistic that we only need one more based on everything we've been able to do thus far to fine tune our tanking procedures," he said."But we also want to be realistic and upfront with you that it may take more than one attempt to get the procedures where we need them." While the shuttle-heritage technology is familiar, the SLS carries more ultra-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants —730,000 gallons — temperatures and pressures are different and the countdown steps to manage the complex systems utilize new software and procedures.
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