NASA delayed second hot test of SLS rocket, suspended selection of HLS

NASA delayed the second hot test run of the core stage of the new rocket space launch system (SLS) due to a valve malfunction. For several months, the staff of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been commissioning the core stage of the SLS.

The test was conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and when all is completed, it will be sent to Florida, where Artemis 1 will be sent into space at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Orlando.

NASA stated in a briefing released on February 22 local time that it is ‘evaluating the performance of SLS core valves’ and the second hot test has been delayed. However, the specific date has not yet been determined.

The agency confirmed that during the first hot test run on January 16, the valve in question was working properly. But the whole process only lasted 67 seconds that is far from the original plan of 8 minutes.

Therefore, NASA arranged for a second hot test run to collect all the necessary data to ensure the normal operation of the rocket. The second hot test was originally scheduled for February 25th. However, during the preparatory stage inspection last weekend, engineers found that one of the eight valves on the SLS was ‘not working properly.’

NASA stated that this caused the second hot test to be delayed. The trial operation of the SLS core level has been postponed since the end of 2020. The seventh test carried out at that time was the pre-launch state training (WDR) of key facilities and equipment and needed to be carried out again.

NASA is currently very tight. It must send the SLS rocket to the Kennedy Space Center before the end of this year to complete the planned unmanned flight around the moon. This is the phased goal of the “Artemis 3” manned lunar landing plan in 2024.

However, there have been signs in recent weeks that 2024 is not necessarily the deadline for NASA to complete its manned mission to the moon. Earlier this month, the U.S. government promised to continue to work on mankind’s moon landing, but the discussion did not mention the goal of completing the mission by 2024.

Additionally, NASA Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk recently stated that given that NASA’s funding did not meet the budget requirements, the deadline for manned moon landings is no longer realistic’. Earlier this month, NASA also suspended the selection of the Human Landing System.

(Via)