NASA Begins Critical Rocket Fuel Test Ahead of Artemis II Moon Mission Launch

NASA has begun a major prelaunch test of its towering Space Launch System rocket, marking one of the final milestones before astronauts head into deep space for the first time in more than 50 years.

The test, known as a wet dress rehearsal, involves pumping more than 700,000 gallons of super-chilled propellant into the rocket — essentially a full countdown practice, stopping just under a minute before liftoff. The rehearsal is designed to confirm that all systems are ready ahead of the upcoming Artemis II mission.

A few hours into the procedure, engineers encountered hydrogen leaks, an issue that also surfaced during earlier rehearsals ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022. Liquid hydrogen, cooled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit, is notoriously difficult to contain because of its tiny molecular structure.

How this test unfolds will help determine when Artemis II can launch, with possible windows stretching from early February through late April.

When the mission lifts off, astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are expected to ride atop the SLS rocket before separating in the Orion spacecraft for a journey that will carry them around the moon. While they will not land on the lunar surface, the flight is expected to take humans farther into space than any mission since Apollo 13 in 1970.

NASA confirmed the crew entered quarantine last month in preparation for launch and will travel to Kennedy Space Center once the rehearsal wraps up.

Officials say lessons learned from Artemis I have been incorporated into preparations for this mission, though engineers still have the option of rolling the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building if additional work is needed.

Cold weather delayed the initial test date, but teams are pushing forward as NASA works toward restoring human deep-space flight.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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