BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Update:
The launch director has called off Monday’s test due to a vent valve issue.
Officials are looking at how quickly the vehicle can be turned around for a next attempt.
Read our previous story below:
The countdown to NASA’s last major test ahead of its uncrewed mission around the moon is underway at the Kennedy Space Center.
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On Monday afternoon, teams began fueling the Artemis 1 rocket as part of a “wet dress rehearsal.” The rocket is being fueled with more than 700,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. This test will ensure the rocket will fuel properly ahead of launch.
As part of the rehearsal, teams will count down to launch twice.
READ: NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket to make first historic journey to the launch pad
A ground systems issue caused teams to scrub the final major test ahead of the launch of Artemis I on Sunday.
The upcoming mission is an uncrewed, integrated flight test of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft around the moon.
By mid-Monday afternoon, there were no signs of venting at Pad 39-B, presumably because of yet another issue.
READ: Artemis 1: Spacecraft to take Americans back to the moon makes it to the launchpad
Ahead of loading super-cold propellants into the rocket, teams ran up against a temperature limit for the liquid oxygen, but they were able to rework procedures to continue.
NASA’s Artemis mission manager said Monday that, if needed, teams could return to the range this week.
READ: NASA looks ahead to more trips to the moon beyond Artemis I
After Tuesday, teams will have to play it day-by-day. A SpaceX mission to the International Space Station has already been delayed to Friday at the earliest.
Over the weekend, four lightning strikes were reported within the perimeter of the launch pad. None of them damaged the rocket.
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