The engineers of NASA had discovered it shortly before the last attempt to startArtemis 1 on September 3rd, the Leak that caused the flight cancellation is now fixed. The US space agency said in an update that technicians are able to do so Replace the broken seal on Friday, September 9th.
During the repair work, NASA aimed to plug a hydrogen leak on a line about 20 cm wide. It was this leak that forced the agency to cancel the launch 40 minutes before the engines start September 3rd.
Photo credit NASA/Chad Siwik
The engineers also took the opportunity to change the seals Substitute another joint on a smaller line about 10 cmand which caused a leak on the first launch attempt on August 29.
place to test
After all failed seals have been replaced, NASA is currently preparing to do so Perform fuel supply tests. According to the agency, this could take place on next 17.09. The task is to fill the 98 m high rocket with more than 2.7 million liters of hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
According to the update released by NASA, this demonstration will allow engineers to verify the new seals under cryogenic or very low temperature conditions. These conditions correspond to those of the start.
The conditions to be met
On September 8th, it was announced that NASA would do so Try again to start the Artemis 1 mission on September 23rd or else September 27th. However, these possibilities depend on the repair status of the detected leaks.
If the next test is successful, engineers can move on to a different test type. It will be Check the cooling of the 4 motors at a temperature of – 251 °C works perfectly. This process is necessary to prepare the engines to receive the cryogenic fuel. During the first two launch attempts, NASA was unable to complete this test.
Apart from the technical side, we know that the American space agency has to take care of that as well Received a waiver from the US Space Force with reference to self-destruct system. This will make it possible not to have to return the rocket to the hangar to test the system that will ensure the destruction of the rocket if it deviates from its trajectory.
SOURCE: Space.com