JAKARTA - Ahead of the launch of the Artemis II mission, NASA's team of technicians is preparing for the final test, namely the wet dress rehearsal for the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft in Florida.
This test was carried out to ensure that all fuel filling systems were functioning perfectly. To run the trial, engineers at the Kennedy Space Center activated the main communication system with the Launch Control Center.
They also conducted swing tests on the arm, which is the main access for astronauts when heading to the Orion spacecraft. The emergency evacuation system in the form of a sliding wire and rescue basket has also been connected for the team's safety training session.
Currently, the main elements of the rocket such as the core stage and the booster have been ignited to undergo a series of electrical tests. Over the weekend, technicians are scheduled to carry out maintenance on the solid rocket booster using the chemical hydrazine.
In addition to the technical preparation of the rocket, some medical equipment and scientific payloads such as the AVATAR investigation have also begun to be loaded into the Orion cabin. In the upcoming clean-up rehearsal, the team will try to load more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the rocket's giant tank.
This process will include a complete countdown simulation as well as a safe fuel unloading exercise from the rocket body. NASA confirmed that all of these tests were carried out without the presence of astronauts on site in order to maintain safety protocols.
If technical problems are found, the rocket and Orion spacecraft will be pulled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional repairs. Although the launch window will open on February 6, the final date is still pending a thorough readiness evaluation.
The management team will assess data from all infrastructure and vehicle performance before giving the green light to take off. The success of this wet test will be an important milestone for the success of the Artemis II mission.
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