NASA Returns To The Launch Of The SLS Rocket Due To Fuel Tank Obstacles

NASA has again postponed the launch of the SLS rocket. (photo: twitter @nasa)

JAKARTA - For the second time in a week, NASA again had to cancel efforts to launch the next generation of giant rockets. If last Monday for reasons of engine disruption, then on Saturday September 3 on the grounds of a fuel leak that the space agency says could delay Artemis' program mission to the moon and Mars for several weeks.

The preflight operation was canceled for last Saturday about three hours before 14:17 local time. The 32-story Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule are scheduled to take off at 18.17 GMT from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The unmanned test, which aims to launch the capsule to the moon and return to Earth, marks the inaugural flight of SLS and Orion half a century after a mission to the last month of the Apollo mission.

#Artemis Update: The team continues to troubleshoot, and plans to return with a variety of options early next week. We are standing down on any launch attempts through the current launch period, which ends Tuesday.See https://t.co/dMVnvEQcfC for more information. pic.twitter.com/cCefwG9FO0

— NASA (@NASA) September 3, 2022

Countdown was canceled after a Kennedy Space Center technician made three failed attempts to repair a "big" leak from a supercold liquid hydrogen propellant pumped into a rocket fuel tank.

The initial test launch on Monday was also thwarted by technical problems, including other leaked fuel lines, faulty temperature sensors and cracks found in the insulation foam.

The mission manager continued with a second launch attempt last Saturday after the previous problem had been resolved. NASA has also backed up another reserve launch time, either for Monday or Tuesday, if a third attempt is required.

But after reviewing data from recent difficulties, NASA concluded the new hydrogen leak was too complicated and took a long time to resolve the problem and repair the launch pad before the launch period allocated for this mission ends next Tuesday.

"This delay means the earliest opportunity to try again will come during the next launch period which will take place September 19-30, or during October," NASA administrator Jim Free told media including Reuters.

He said the delay would also involve overthrowing the spacecraft back into its assembly building. This is due to Cape Canaveral's "distance" rule which limits how long the rocket can remain in its launch tower before undergoing a new round of indoor security checks.

Mike Sarafin, NASA's Artemis mission manager, said efforts to resolve the latest technical barriers would require "a few weeks of work."

NASA chief Bill Nelson said earlier that the setback would delay further launch efforts by at least until mid-October. This is also due to avoid a scheduling conflict with the next crew of the International Space Station which will launch early that month.

Postponement of launch and malfunction day is not uncommon in space businesses, especially for new rockets such as NASA's Space Launch System, a complex vehicle with a series of pre-lifting procedures that have not been fully tested and trained by engineers.