{"id":17356,"date":"2022-08-30T00:11:49","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T16:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/problem-with-rocket-engine-forces-nasa-to-reschedule-first-launch-of-moon-rocket\/"},"modified":"2022-08-30T00:11:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T16:11:49","slug":"problem-with-rocket-engine-forces-nasa-to-reschedule-first-launch-of-moon-rocket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/problem-with-rocket-engine-forces-nasa-to-reschedule-first-launch-of-moon-rocket\/","title":{"rendered":"Problem with rocket engine forces NASA to reschedule first launch of moon rocket"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket stands on its Florida launch pad. (NASA via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A plumbing issue on a rocket engine has forced a postponement in the first launch of NASA\u2019s most powerful rocket on a history-making round-the-moon flight.<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket went far into the fueling process for today\u2019s start of the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, which is meant to test all the systems that will come into play during crewed missions to the moon.<\/p>\n

During the countdown, engineers detected a problem with one of the core stage\u2019s four RS-25 rocket engines. The rocket is designed to \u201cbleed off\u201d some of its supercooled propellant to condition its engines \u2014 basically, to maintain the engines at the proper temperature for startup. But the hydrogen bleed procedure wasn\u2019t working properly for engine No. 3.<\/p>\n

Engineers tried various techniques to free up the plumbing snag, and NASA called an unplanned hold at T-minus-40 minutes to give them more time to come up with a fix. But in the end, mission managers decided to scrub the launch for today.<\/p>\n

The next launch opportunity comes on Friday, when a two-hour window opens at 12:48 p.m. ET (9:48 a.m. PT). \u201cHowever, we will await a determination of what the plan is to go forward to remedy the engine bleed, and then go from there,\u201d said launch commentator Derrol Nail.<\/p>\n

During the early phases of the fueling process, the launch team had to resolve an issue involving a hydrogen leak. Another issue involved what appeared to be a fissure in the foam insulation covering the rocket. Engineers eventually determined that the fissure, and the puffs of chilled air that emanated from the fissure, were similar to what had been observed during space shuttle countdowns. NASA said that particular phenomenon wouldn\u2019t be a show-stopper. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for such glitches to surface during preparations for the first launch of a rocket \u2014 and the Space Launch System is arguably the most complex and costliest rocket NASA and its commercial partners (led by Boeing) have developed since the space shuttle program. Problems with the fueling system cropped up during dress rehearsals that were conducted over the past few months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t launch until it\u2019s right,\u201d NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said after today\u2019s scrub. \u201cIt\u2019s just illustrative that this is a very complicated machine, a very complicated system, and all those things have to work. And you don\u2019t want to light the candle until it\u2019s ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson noted that his own space shuttle launch, which took place in 1986 while he was a member of Congress, encountered four scrubs. \u201cHad we launched on any one of those scrubs, it wouldn\u2019t have been a good day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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