NASA has completed a key fueling test of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II Moon mission and will outline early results later this week.
The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft were rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 17 January. Since then, teams have been conducting a series of integrated tests ahead of launch. The wet dress rehearsal, now under way, requires filling the rocket with approximately 700,000 gallons of propellant.
NASA said “call to stations” began on 31 January, with teams counting down toward a simulated launch window that opened at 1.00pm AEDT on 3 February (9.00pm EST, 2 February). Depending on the outcome of the test, the agency may roll the SLS and Orion back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work.
NASA said a successful wet dress rehearsal would allow agency leaders to make a final decision on whether to send the Artemis II crew to Kennedy Space Center. The four astronauts have been in quarantine in Houston since 21 January. If additional work on the vehicle is required, the crew may remain in Houston or exit quarantine.
If cleared to travel, the Artemis II astronauts are expected to fly to Florida aboard NASA T-38 aircraft, arriving at Kennedy Space Center at around 7.00am AEDT on 4 February (3.00pm EST, 3 February).
The Artemis II crew comprises Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist from the Canadian Space Agency.
Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
