NASA’s High-Stakes Moon Mission Test Finally Soars—But What Unexpected Challenge Lies Ahead?
Ever had one of those days where you think, “Alright, we’re good to go,” only to hit the brakes because of a sneaky little hydrogen leak? Yep, NASA knows the feeling all too well. After a nail-biting first attempt cut short just minutes before liftoff, the Artemis II mission’s ‘wet dress rehearsal’ got a do-over—and this time, everything flowed smoothly. Sure, there were hiccups (because what’s space prep without a little chaos?), but loading 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant and ticking off the checklist has NASA buzzing with a fresh burst of confidence. Now, as the astronauts gear up to enter quarantine—because hey, even space travelers gotta keep those germs at bay—the countdown truly begins toward a mission that will push humanity farther around the Moon than ever before. So, what’s next? Waiting with bated breath for that green light to launch into history. LEARN MORE
After having to call things off previously the ‘wet dress rehearsal’ for NASA’s Artemis II mission has been carried out successfully second time around.
The first attempt had to be cancelled at T-5:15 minutes due to a liquid hydrogen leak, so NASA conducted repairs and set it up for a second attempt yesterday (19 February).
Jordan Bimm, Assistant Instructional Professor of Science Communication at the University of Chicago, had told LADbible had been anticipating this problem and went into the first test thinking ‘we’re gonna hear about a hydrogen leak’.
He explained that NASA has ‘an allowance for a certain amount of hydrogen to leak out’, and this time they have done it.
NASA announced they ‘successfully fuelled its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and demonstrated the launch countdown’ as part of preparations for the mission itself.
The test didn’t work first time, but now they’ve got it right and can start preparing for launch (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)
A successful test for Artemis II
Over 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant was loaded into the rocket while a crew, not the actual crew set to fly it on the big day, closed all of the spacecraft’s hatches.
NASA said the liquid hydrogen fuelling had ‘proved challenging during previous tests’ but this time they ‘remained under allowable limits’ which has given them confidence in new seals which were installed.
That’s not to say things went off without a hitch, as NASA explained there had still been some problems with the wet dress rehearsal.
They said: “Early in fuelling operations, teams experienced a loss of ground communications in the Launch Control Center.
“Operators temporarily moved to backup communication methods to maintain safe propellant loading activities before normal communications channels were restored. Engineers isolated the equipment that caused the issue.”
Still, it’s considered a successful test ahead of launch.
The mission to go beyond the moon is back on track (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Artemis II crew goes into quarantine
NASA said they expect the Artemis II crew, who observed the test, to go into quarantine today ahead of a potentially green light for the mission.
There has been no formal launch date set, but the astronauts need to be in quarantine for roughly 14 days before they set off for space.
It doesn’t mean they’re launching in March, but it keeps the option open should conditions permit it.
NASA had identified 6 March as the earliest possible opportunity for launch.
Astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina H Koch are going into quarantine (NASA)
The Artemis II mission
The mission itself plans to send the crew of astronauts into space where they will orbit the Earth before setting off around the Moon.
They will go further round the far side of the Moon than anyone has ever gone before, and depending on their launch date it’ll be the furthest human beings have ever made it into space.
“It comes down to which launch window they pick. I don’t want to take away from how historic this is, how risky it is, how daring it is,” Professor Bimm said.
“I think for me that’s the real accomplishment, not did they get the extra five, 10 on the yardstick.
“We tried this really hard thing that hasn’t been done in a really long time and we’re doing it in a new way with a new vision of what to do there.
“Our astronauts this time are gonna be higher up, they’re gonna see more of the surface of the moon out the window and they’re gonna do some cool human-eye observations of that.”
Now we wait for NASA to announce the launch date.
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