The main rocket stage of NASA’s Space Launch System will undergo a “hot fire” test on Saturday (January 16) … [+]
NASA Television
NASA is trying to find out why the engines shut down just one minute into an eight-minute critical rocket test on Saturday (January 16), ahead of the release of a test planned to the moon in November or so.
The group was carrying out a long and complex series of tests on the Space Launch System rocket, with this “hot fire” test being the last of eight. Some of the previous tests were delayed due to weather or technical issues, putting schedule pressure on the group as they tried to move the rocket from its test yards in Mississippi to its starting zone. at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“The crew managed to count them down and lit the engines, but the engines closed just over one minute into the hot fire,” NASA said in a statement. “Teams are evaluating the data to determine the cause of the early closure, and will determine the way forward.”
The staff is doing their best to meet their deadlines and NASA has not yet officially moved the test, so there is still hope that they will do everything safely and safely. the time. The organization is also capable of adjustments when the situation so requires. That said, NASA must certify the SLS not only for a test mission, but also for a human mission in 2023 to orbit the moon. And the milestones need to be explored in good time to reach the lunar surface by astronauts in 2024, as NASA hopes to do.
Finding out what happened takes some time, as the teams examine the main stage of the rocket being tested, the equipment associated with it, and the data generated; the data will still be useful for mission work even though the run has not been fully completed, NASA said.
“We will learn from the closure early today, identify any corrections if needed, and move forward,” Rick Gilbrech, director of the Stennis Center, said in the same NASA statement.
The hot fire test took place just days before another major change came to NASA, namely the administration of Joe Biden coming into office Wednesday (January 20) and international interest in the first 100 days of his command. . With the new administration will eventually come NASA’s new administrator (replacing the current administrator, Jim Bridenstine) and possibly a new command for the organization (since most presidents like to stamp replaced), although it may be longer than the previous 100 days. these are named.
It is unclear, given the current economic environment fueled by the pandemic, how much money the new administration will provide for lunar missions and whether they will continue to fire. for 2024 to land – or wait a few years. But NASA signed several memoranda of agreement for the Artemis lunar program with other countries, providing more fuel to keep the program going because of international participation and commitment.