NASA’s Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft on board is at 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, March 18, 2022. After a series of equipment problems, NASA tried an abbreviated test to charge its mega lunar rocket on Thursday, 14 April 2022 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: AP Photo / John Raoux, File
NASA’s latest attempt to power its huge lunar rocket for a countdown test was thwarted Thursday by a dangerous hydrogen leak, the latest in a series of nasty equipment problems.
The launch team had just started refueling at the main stage of the rocket when the leak occurred. This was the third frame of NASA during a dress rehearsal, a mandatory step before a test flight to the moon.
This time, the launch team was able to load some super cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the main stage of the 30-story Space Launch System rocket, but did not reach the full amount. Liquid hydrogen is extremely dangerous, and officials note that the systems were checked for leaks before the test.
Technicians deliberately left the smaller upper stage empty after they discovered a bad valve last week. The upper helium valve cannot be replaced until the rocket returns to its hangar at the Kennedy Space Center.
Two previous countdown attempts were overshadowed by awkward fans and a large hand-operated valve that workers accidentally left closed on site last week.
Officials said on Twitter that they were considering their next steps.
NASA is heading to June for the debut of a 322-foot (98-meter) SLS rocket. The empty Orion capsule above will be sent on a mission for four to six weeks around the moon and back.
The astronauts will board for the second test flight around the moon, scheduled for 2024. This will be followed in 2025 with the first landing on the moon by astronauts in 1972. NASA plans to announce the crews for these two missions this summer.
More delays in the NASA lunar rocket test, fuel stopped
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