After the Last Test, NASA Delays the Artemis II Launch Schedule

SLS rocket for Artemis II on the launch pad (photo: doc. NASA)

JAKARTA - The US Space and Flight Agency (NASA) has completed the wet dress rehearsal or wet test on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This is the last test before the launch of the Artemis II mission.

This wet test was conducted on Tuesday, February 3, in the morning in Florida time. During the test, the cryogenic refueling was successful and NASA engineers managed to overcome a number of challenges, but the launch schedule was shifted to March.

Originally, NASA planned to launch Artemis II on February 8. However, after finding various problems, one of which was a liquid hydrogen leak in the rocket core stage, NASA decided to postpone the flight schedule for four astronauts to the Moon's orbit.

NASA also touched on another problem they found during testing, namely the weather conditions that were not possible. Cold weather in Florida had hampered the operation because some systems needed extra heating time.

In addition, this cold weather also affects the performance of the camera and other monitoring equipment around the launch pad. Technicians also found a valve on the Orion crew module that needed to be tightened so that the launch could not run on February 8.

The technical team also still needs to evaluate the interference on the audio communication channel that had reappeared during the clean-up rehearsal process. Although it seems that there are many obstacles faced by the agency, NASA managed to meet a number of its targets, including the countdown simulation.

NASA has also successfully tested a new procedure that ensures the ground team can work safely around the Orion module's entry area. By solving a number of challenges they found during the dress rehearsal, Artemis II can launch on time in March.

As a result of this schedule change, the four Artemis II astronauts will be temporarily released from the medical quarantine period in Houston. The four are scheduled to quarantine again about two weeks before the new launch date.