NASA Fuels Moon Rocket in Crucial Test for Artemis Astronaut Launch
NASA has initiated a critical fueling test of its new moon rocket, a make-or-break rehearsal that will decide when astronauts can embark on a lunar fly-around mission. The test, which began on Monday, could pave the way for a launch as early as this coming weekend, marking a significant step in the Artemis program.
Final Dress Rehearsal Before Lunar Voyage
The launch team at Kennedy Space Center started loading the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket with super-cold hydrogen and oxygen late in the midday. This process involves pumping more than 700,000 gallons (2.6 million litres) of propellant into the tanks, where it must remain for several hours to simulate the final stages of an actual countdown. The only element missing from this critical dress rehearsal was the crew itself.
Crew Monitors from Houston in Quarantine
The three American and one Canadian astronauts monitored the test from nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) away at Johnson Space Center in Houston. They have been in quarantine for the past one and a half weeks, awaiting the outcome of this practice countdown. The success of this all-day operation will determine when they can blast off on the first crewed lunar voyage in over half a century.
Countdown Clocks Set Amid Cold Snap Delays
Running two days behind schedule due to a bitter cold snap, NASA set its countdown clocks to stop half a minute before reaching zero, just prior to engine ignition. The clocks began ticking on Saturday night, allowing launch controllers to go through all the necessary procedures and address any lingering issues with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Hydrogen leaks had previously kept the first SLS rocket on the pad for months in 2022, but launch managers have expressed confidence that these problems are now resolved.
Launch Window and Mission Details
If the fueling demonstration proceeds smoothly, NASA could launch commander Reid Wiseman and his crew to the moon as soon as Sunday. However, the rocket must be airborne by February 11, or the mission will be postponed until March. The space agency only has a limited number of days each month to launch the rocket, and the extreme cold has already shortened February's launch window by two days.
The planned mission will last nearly ten days, sending the astronauts past the moon, around its mysterious far side, and then directly back to Earth. The primary goal is to test the capsule's life support and other vital systems, though the crew will not enter lunar orbit or attempt a landing.
Artemis Program Aims for Sustained Lunar Presence
NASA last sent astronauts to the moon during the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s. The new Artemis program seeks to establish a more sustained lunar presence, with Wiseman's crew laying the groundwork for future moon landings by other astronauts. This test represents a pivotal moment in advancing human exploration beyond Earth's orbit.
