The Moon will have to wait a little longer. Nasa engineers are once again grappling with the temperamental nature of liquid hydrogen as they push to launch the Artemis II mission.
Following a confidence test conducted on February 12 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the space agency is reviewing data to determine if newly replaced seals on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are finally holding up.
Nasa had initially targeted a February launch window for this historic crewed mission. However, a major leak during a wet dress rehearsal on February 3 forced an initial delay.
To verify the repairs, engineers conducted a confidence test, which is a targeted procedure where operators partially fill the fuel tanks to assess specific components like the newly replaced seals before committing to a full-scale rehearsal.
During the latest follow-up test, teams encountered a fresh hurdle: an issue with ground support equipment that restricted the flow of liquid hydrogen into the rocket core stage.
While engineers gained confidence in several objectives, the reduced flow prevented a full assessment of the new seals.
Liquid hydrogen is the most efficient chemical rocket fuel, but it is also a nightmare to contain.
Because it is the smallest molecule in the universe, it can slip through the tiniest imperfections in seals or joints.
For Artemis II, which will carry four astronauts around the Moon, Nasa has zero tolerance for these leaks.
Engineers are now inspecting a filter suspected of causing the flow issues and will purge the lines over the weekend to prepare for a second full wet dress rehearsal later this month.
The crew, including Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover, were released from their initial quarantine after the first delay.
They are now expected to re-enter isolation roughly two weeks before the next firm launch window. March remains the earliest possible period for the 10-day journey, which will mark the first time humans have returned to the lunar vicinity since 1972.
Success is crucial, as this flight serves as the final bridge to the Artemis III mission, which aims to land the first woman and person of colour on the Moon's surface. This delay highlights just how difficult reaching the Moon remains, even fifty years later.
Source: India Today