CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – The long-anticipated crewed lunar expedition by NASA has been postponed until at least March, attributed to hydrogen fuel seepage incidents that overshadowed the comprehensive systems check of its formidable new launch vehicle.
This recurring issue prevented the Space Launch System rocket’s initial launch sequence three years ago. That inaugural flight demonstration was held up for extensive periods due to escaping hydrogen, a substance known for its high flammability and inherent hazard.
“To be candid, this particular occurrence caught us by surprise,” stated NASA’s John Honeycutt on Tuesday, several hours after the test procedure was abruptly terminated at Kennedy Space Center.
Prior to the frustrating fuel leakage events, the space agency had been aiming for potentially as early as the upcoming weekend for humankind’s inaugural voyage to the moon in over fifty years.
“When engaging with hydrogen, we are dealing with an exceptionally small molecule. It possesses a substantial energy content, which is precisely why we value it, and we endeavor to manage it with the utmost diligence,” Honeycutt elaborated.
Agency representatives indicated that the month-long deferral will afford the launch personnel the opportunity to perform another fueling simulation prior to fully committing the four-member crew – three from the United States and one from Canada – to a lunar flyby trajectory. It remains premature to ascertain the exact timing for a rescheduled countdown rehearsal.
Any necessary rectifications to compromised or distorted seals, or other affiliated hardware, can likely be executed while the rocket remains on the launch pad, according to program managers. A relocation back to the Vehicle Assembly Building would almost certainly precipitate a more significant delay.
The leakage phenomena emerged early within Monday’s propellant loading sequence and recurred several hours later, ultimately necessitating the cessation of the countdown at the five-minute threshold. Launch directors had intended to continue the countdown down to the thirty-second mark, but the egressing hydrogen surpassed predefined safety parameters.
NASA repeatedly halted the introduction of liquid hydrogen, maintained at temperatures of -423 °F (-253 °C), in an attempt to elevate the temperature of the interface between the rocket and its fuel conduits, with the hope of reconstituting any dislodged seals. However, this approach proved ineffective, as did modifications to the hydrogen flow rates – procedural adjustments that ultimately facilitated the maiden flight of the SLS rocket without a crew in 2022.
With their launch now projected for no earlier than March 6, commander Reid Wiseman and his fellow crew members received clearance to conclude their quarantine period in Houston. They are scheduled to re-enter isolation two weeks preceding the subsequent launch attempt.
Wiseman conveyed via the social media platform X his pride in the execution of the dress rehearsal, “particularly recognizing the immense challenge presented by the circumstances to our launch team engaged in this hazardous and exacting work.”
The frigid ambient conditions at the launch complex did not contribute to the fuel leakages or any other operational issues, officials confirmed. Protective heaters maintained the Orion capsule’s temperature, situated atop the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket, while continuous purging safeguarded both the rocket and the ground infrastructure.
Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator, underscored that the Space Launch System is fundamentally an “experimental vehicle,” with ongoing learning experiences. Protracted intervals between fueling simulations and actual flights are not conducive to progress, he added.
“I am profoundly reminded, nearly four decades and four days following the Challenger tragedy, that no individual in these decision-making roles should characterize these vehicles as operational,” Kshatriya remarked during a press briefing.
NASA has a limited window of opportunity each month to facilitate lunar transits – marking the first crewed lunar journey since 1972.
The upcoming mission, spanning approximately ten days, will not involve a lunar landing or orbital insertion. Instead, its primary objective is the validation of life support and other critical capsule systems in preparation for a future lunar landing mission by a different astronaut contingent several years from now.
During the 1960s and 1970s, NASA dispatched 24 astronauts to the moon as part of the Apollo missions. The contemporary Artemis program aspires to explore new frontiers, specifically targeting the moon’s southern polar region, with the objective of establishing extended human presences on the lunar surface.
