NASA’s second critical test of the launch vehicle for the first mission of the Artemis mission to the moon was due to a stuck valve on ground equipment on Monday, April 5 getting canceled.
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Jeremy Parsons, NASA’s deputy director for ground systems, confirmed that the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket used to launch the Artemis 1 mission was already anchored on Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39B, but was ready to refill the A vent valve on its mobile launcher structure jammed while fueling, forcing NASA to cancel the test.
This test is NASA’s second “critical facility equipment pre-launch state exercise” (WDR) of the SLS rocket, attempting to fill 2.6 million liters of chilled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen mixed propellant into the core stage of up to 98 meters. NASA attempted a similar test on April 3, but the test was called off before the propellant was filled due to pressurization issues.
It is unclear whether NASA will be able to continue its propellant refueling attempt on Tuesday, local time, or if it will stop current work to replenish the propellant supply and give participating testers a break. The surprise could prompt another delay for two of SpaceX’s crewed missions.
