NASA will attempt another countdown dry run of the Space Launch System in early June , but the distance agency warn that multiple test of its particular rocket might be necessary .
SLS returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on April 26 , allowing technician to swap out a faulty upper stage helium chit valve and prepare a small atomic number 1 leak on the tail service mast umbilical . These and other “ nuisance ” problems , as NASA key them , keep groundcrews from perform a fourth slopped attire rehearsal , in which the skyrocket was to be fully load with super - cooled propellent and a full countdown practise . NASA was hoping to perform the 4th trial while the 322 - groundwork - magniloquent ( 98 - m ) rocket was still standing on Launch Complex 39B , but it was not to be .
speak to reporters yesterday , NASA officials said they ’ll try out again to do a full wet frock rehearsal in early or mid June . The sum up time will allow the team to settle some lingering proficient problems , do additional checkout of the skyrocket , and allow an off - web site provider of gaseous atomic number 7 to do necessary upgrades of its line system .

NASA’s SLS rocket as seen through the windows of Firing Room One in the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky
SLS is a central constituent of NASA ’s forthcoming Artemis programme , which seeks to return U.S. astronauts to the cold lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years . NASA also needs the megarocket to build its upcoming Lunar Gateway ( a small space station in cranial orbit around the Moon ) and to enable succeeding crew trips to Mars . The SLS programme has suffer fromcost overruns and delays , with these latest blow adding revilement to injury .
Assuming a successful rehearsal can be complete in June , the rocket will once again roll back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for concluding launch training and “ some work that we ’ve deferred to the other side of the soused dress , ” as Jim Free , associate administrator for geographic expedition systems growth at NASA , explained during the medium teleconference . Upcoming launch periods for the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission admit July 26 to August 9 ( Free say NASA is not considering the July portion of this time period ) , August 23 to 29 , and September 2 to 6 . pretty ominously , Free say launching window have been put down out for the residue of the calendar year but did n’t furnish specific date . NASA will expect for the results of the next wet dress to make a conclusion about when to launch .
Free , explicate that he want to be “ realistic ” and “ upfront , ” said “ it may take more than one attempt ” to conclude a soused dress and to “ get the procedures where we necessitate them for a smooth launching count that gives us the unspoilt chance to make our launching window when we get to the launch daylight . ” As this is the first sentence we ’re hearing that multiple attempts might be necessary , and give the mess of problems encounter during the first three test , I ask Free if the rocket is proving to be more complicated than NASA think .

“ SLS is n’t turn up to be more complicated — we knew it was complicated , ” he responded . A particular challenge , Free said , has been operate on the fresh ground system for the first time and seeing how they react . The team is “ not going to take it for granted ” that the next wet frock is “ going to be great ” based on what was experienced during the first three attempts , he said . A sure amount of Platonism is needed in the approach and the “ team want our backing , ” he summate . This includes managing the squad ’s workload , who have “ been going at it for quite a while now , ” Free said . “ This is really hard work . ”
SLS should depart the Vehicle Assembly Building in late May , with the wet dress wait in early or tardy June . This is no guarantee , as technicians have n’t yet determined the source of rubber junk that prevented an upper degree check valve from operate during an early psychometric test . The umbilical hydrogen leak on the pad also needs to be furbish up to the team ’s satisfaction ( the problem is being remedied with the periodic re - torquing of bolts ) , while the vendor of the gaseous nitrogen , Air Liquide , needs to exhibit that it can give birth the natural gas to SLS as required , as Cliff Lanham , senior fomite performance handler at NASA , told reporters .
On a positivist musical note , NASA will have live commentary for the next SLS dry run , which had n’t been done for the first three tests , apparently forsecurityreasons .

Artemis 1Artemis programJim FreeLunar GatewayNASASpaceflight
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