NASA to Discuss Plans Today for Artemis Moon Mission Modified Test

[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

 



  April 11, 2022 
MEDIA ADVISORY  M22-047
NASA to Discuss Plans Today for Artemis Moon Mission Modified Test
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B, Thursday, April 7, 2022.
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B, Thursday, April 7, 2022, as the Artemis I launch team prepares for the next attempt of the wet dress rehearsal test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT today, Monday, April 11, to provide an update on the final major test of the agency’s mega Moon rocket and spacecraft on the launch pad at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I lunar mission. 

The teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website.

NASA is planning to proceed with a modified wet dress rehearsal test focused on using the ground systems at Kennedy to load propellant into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s core stage tanks, with minimal propellant operations on the upper stage. In addition to loading propellant, the wet dress rehearsal is an opportunity to refine countdown procedures and validate critical models and software interfaces. The team achieved many of the wet dress rehearsal objectives during the two prior tests, and the modified test will enable engineers to achieve the remaining test objectives critical to launch success.  

Teleconference participants include: 

  • Tom Whitmeyer, deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems development, NASA Headquarters in Washington
  • Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, NASA Exploration Ground Systems program, Kennedy 
  • John Blevins, SLS chief engineer, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters 

To participate by telephone, media must RSVP to NASA no later than one hour prior to the start of the event to: ksc-newsroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Following the previous test run, engineers identified an issue with a helium check valve that was not functioning as expected, requiring changes to the test to ensure safety of the flight hardware. Due to the time needed to adjust loading procedures, testing is scheduled to resume with call to stations on Tuesday, April 12 and tanking on Thursday, April 14.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone to send astronauts to Mars. 

For updates, follow along on NASA’s Artemis blog at: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/ 

-end- 

 

Press Contacts

Kathryn Hambleton 
Headquarters, Washington 
202-358-1100 
Kathryn.a.hambleton@xxxxxxxx 

Tiffany Fairley 
Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 
321-867-2468 
Tiffany.l.fairley@xxxxxxxx  

Tracy McMahan 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. 
256-682-5226 
Tracy.McMahan@xxxxxxxx   

 

NASA news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail to hqnews-join@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.gov (no subject or text in the body is required).

To unsubscribe from the list, send an e-mail message to hqnews-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.gov (no subject or text in the body is required).

 
[Index of Archives]     [JPL News]     [Cassini News From Saturn]     [NASA Marshall Space Flight Center News]     [NASA Science News]     [James Web Space Telescope News]     [JPL Home]     [NASA KSC]     [NTSB]     [Deep Creek Hot Springs]     [Yosemite Discussion]     [NSF]     [Telescopes]

  Powered by Linux