NASA Artemis 1 going to the Moon (launched Nov 16)

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The Flight Readiness Review for Artemis 1 has concluded, with the launch scheduled for August 29, 2022, at 12:33 UTC, and backup windows available from September 2 to September 6. This mission will mark the first uncrewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule, which will orbit the Moon before returning to Earth. Extensive NASA coverage is planned, and over 100,000 visitors are expected to witness the launch. However, the launch faced delays due to technical issues, including engine conditioning problems, raising concerns about the timeline of the $21 billion program. If successful, Artemis 1 will establish the SLS as the most powerful operational rocket, paving the way for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.
  • #101
1:11pm NASA Announcement: They just reached "replenish" on the LH tank - so "Fast Fill" has completed successfully.

1:19pm: NASA decided earlier not to start the upper stage fueling on schedule. They are now deciding whether to go for that part of the test or not.

1:35pm: No news on the upper stage test - but NASA will be moving forward on the "prepres" test - bringing the tanks up to the flight pressure and and down to flight temperature levels.

Also, NASA has moved on to the upper stage fueling.
 
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  • #102
2:07pm: Upper stage QD Boot Containment was lost. Has happened before. Doesn't sound very important.
2:11pm: Fast fill for both LOX and LH in upper stage.

(meanwhile - Elon says Starship flight very likely in November)

3:15pm NASA Announcement: Upper stage LH in the "Topping" stage.

The Prepress test is still expected today.

3:27pm: LH upper stage fill is complete.
3:32pm NASA Announcement: Go for the LH2 Prepress test. Replenish and fill and drain valves are closed. Tank vent valve close. Engine bleed with high flow. Simulates flight conditions.
3:36pm NASA Announcement: LH2 Pre-press test started. Upper stage LOX tank is continuing to load.

The Pre-press is the last item on the original checklist for a launch attempt. This doesn't mean that 9/27 launch attempt is go, but its one less item that could stop it.

3:44pm NASA Announcement: LH Leaking crossed the 4% concentration limit - and is holding at about 4%. But this was the 4-inch LH bleed quick-disconnect - not the 8-inch LH feed one that was causing the problem earlier.
3:45pm NASA Announcement: Upper stage LOX fill has completed.
3:48pm NASA Announcement: The pressure test target pressure has been reached. The Pre-press test is complete.

3:56pm NASA Announcement: Core tank is in replenish.
4:12pm NASA Announcement: Pre-press test was successful - and the pressure control was good enough to complete the test in only 15 minutes.
The 4-inch bleed QD reached a little over 5% - but it lowered on its own. In an actual launch, it would have stopped the launch.
4:15pm: LOX Upper stage is nearing completion.

4:31pm: A final replenish test was just completed. That was the last test. They are go for "cutoff" (the simulated countdown) and detanking.

- - -
 
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  • #103
There was actually more information about how the testing was progressing than you commonly get with a SpaceX test.

There was more information about that FTS battery issue. It's sounding to me like the 25-day limit is tied a lot more to guaranteeing regular FTS equipment access to the Range (Space Force) than it is to what might reasonably cause an FTS equipment malfunction. -- So I am a lot more optimistic about NASA getting an extension on the FTS waiver.

I wouldn't guess about whether they will want to do another test before the launch. Sounds like a close call to me.

And .. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/ announced that they will now have a 24/7 video feed of the NASA Florida launch complex.
 
  • #105
NASA announced that this test went well enough to go for a 9/27 launch.
This topic will be discussed on NASA Live in 2 hours (12:30pm ET 9/23/2022).

The press release is at: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/...pdate-on-demonstration-test-artemis-i-mission

"Based on data from the test, teams are fine-tuning procedures for the next launch opportunity, targeted for no earlier than Sept. 27. The rocket remains in a safe and flight-ready configuration at the launch pad."
 
  • #106
Regarding the Tuesday, Sept 27th:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/145524.shtml?mltoa34#contents
145524_earliest_reasonable_toa_no_wsp_34[1].png
 
  • #107
From Fox Weather:
NASA is hoping to launch on Sept. 27 at 11:37 a.m. EDT. However, that launch window was not entirely up to the space agency. NASA first needed approval from the Space Force, which oversees the Eastern Range, to extend the Flight Termination System certification due to safety requirements. The FTS is required on all rockets and would cause the vehicle to self-destruct if it veers off course and threatens the public.

SLS chief engineer John Blevins shared the good news on Friday that both the Sept. 27 and Oct. 2 backup date were approved by the Space Force.
They have the Space Force waiver. So if they return to the VAB, it'll for the tropical storm, not the FTS.
 
  • #108
Ars Technica has an interesting article about NASA's plans .

But one caution: The article talks about FTS "battery life" but during the Wednesday live feed it was explained that the FTS waiver issue was not really a "battery life" issue.

What is interesting in the article is that NASA is prepared to leave SLS out in the open during a Tropical Storm (but not a hurricane).

Quoting from the article:
So what is the upside of risking the rocket and spacecraft , which were developed at a cost of more than $30 billion, in a tropical system? By waiting out the weather NASA is seeking to preserve an opportunity to launch on September 27 or October 2. Failing that, it will need to roll back to the hangar regardless.

Doing so would likely push the next launch attempt into the second half of November. "Some life-limited items would be coming up in that case," Blevins said. This appeared to be an admission that for NASA, the clock is ticking on a rocket that has been fully stacked for launch for nearly a year now, and which has critical parts that cannot be serviced in that configuration. In short, NASA officials would very much like to get off the pad as soon as possible.

I can't help noting that Elon recently mentioned November as well.
 
  • #109
Weather criteria for Artemis 1
Do not launch if the peak liftoff winds exceed a range of 29 knots through 39 knots between 132.5 feet and 457.5 feet, respectively.

Do not launch through upper-level wind conditions that could lead to control problems for the launch vehicle.

Do not launch through precipitation.
"Tropical storm force" winds are >34 knots, so the risk of exceeding the first wind speed limit for the Tuesday launch window is pretty small. Most likely they'll never get TS winds at the launch pad (~30% risk according to the forecast), and even if they do it's probably after the end of the launch window. The other criteria are worse, with just a 20% chance of acceptable weather overall.

Will be interesting to see how this develops.
 
  • #110
Just to keep in suspense, Tropical Storm Ian has now slowed. Per todays 11am forecast chart below, tropical force winds will arrive at the launch site after 8pm Tuesday.

Will Ian allow the launch or won't it? Stay tuned...

Actually, it could become even more suspenseful than that. On Tuesday night, Ian might be creating conditions unsafe for an unsheltered SLS. So if NASA shoots for that 70 minute window on Tuesday and the launch is scrubbed, we could be watching a Goliath racing to the VAB.

145630_earliest_reasonable_toa_no_wsp_34.png
 
  • #112
.Scott said:
They will decide on whether to return SLS to the VAB tomorrow.
Looks like they want to keep an October 2 launch an option if the storm moves away, but it's likely they'll go back to VAB.
 
  • #113
As @mfb noted, the Tuesday launch is unscrubbed - but still far from a certainty.
Hurricane Ian has not moved that much and tropical force winds are not expected at the cape until early Wed. morning - perhaps time to move SLS to the VAB after the launch window has expired.

NASA has postponed a final decision until today.
102341_earliest_reasonable_toa_no_wsp_34.png
 
  • #114
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  • #115
The following launch window would be October 17 – October 31 but they are unlikely to make that, so we are probably looking at November 12 – November 27 with a backup launch window of December 9 – December 23. They got the FTS extension this time, so I assume they can get it again - preparing for a November 12 launch would give them up to 6 actual launch attempts, three per window. Hurricane frequency should go down.
 
  • #116
The SLS just arrived at the VAB - so it is now safe from the weather.
With SLS at the VAB, NASA should be able to get caught up on all the scheduled servicing - including the FTS. So I do not expect that they will need an FTS extension.

Edit:
NASA just posted another SLS update:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022...craft -arrive-at-vehicle-assembly-building-2/

And they do mention the replacement of all FTS batteries as part o their planning.
 
  • #117
They replace the batteries before returning to the launch pad of course - but if they replace them e.g. November 7 then the original 20 days would only cover the end of the November launch window. We could run into the same situation as earlier this month, 2-3 failed launch attempts and the question if the rocket can stay on the pad until the December launch window. Probably yes, because the batteries used in November shouldn't be worse than the batteries installed in August.
 
  • #118
mfb said:
They replace the batteries before returning to the launch pad of course - but if they replace them e.g. November 7 then the original 20 days would only cover the end of the November launch window. We could run into the same situation as earlier this month, 2-3 failed launch attempts and the question if the rocket can stay on the pad until the December launch window. Probably yes, because the batteries used in November shouldn't be worse than the batteries installed in August.
Somewhere in the NASA coverage I read that if it gets into December, they run into a long list of booster devices expiring - and thus more time in the VAB. Perhaps the "planning" they are doing now will take greater advantage of the VAB visit than just the FTS.
 
  • #119
From inverse.com.

NASA is coordinating several factors to see what’s the best choice for the next launch target. A launch in October, as early as next week, is not off the table. But Jim Free, associate administrator of NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, suggested it’s unlikely. Free told reporters he didn’t want Artemis I to return too quickly to the launchpad without first addressing “limited-life items” that need periodic reassessment.

Free also said the team prefers to do a daytime launch, but November’s launch opportunities wouldn’t support that.
 
  • #120
Teams Confirm No Damage to Flight Hardware, Focus on November for Launch
.Scott said:
Somewhere in the NASA coverage I read that if it gets into December, they run into a long list of booster devices expiring - and thus more time in the VAB. Perhaps the "planning" they are doing now will take greater advantage of the VAB visit than just the FTS.
They have already extended that twice, November vs. December is probably not making a big difference. If they have to re-stack it then it's going to be a long delay.
 
  • #121
The whole going to the Moon and, or to Mars has been proposed by one government and scraped by the next for some other program to the other destination, ever since Jimmy Carter was President of the US.
This latest version, Artemis, brought to us by NASA, has got as far as having a concrete objective: the Moon, and a concrete space vehicle, now being tested. Or attempting to be tested.

Personally, I prefer for this to start on the Moon and learn there how to live in a place that is trying to kill you every second you are there, but is a lot closer than Mars, who is just as bad as a place to go and visit, but also with the con of higher gravity and, that I can tell, no obvious pro that cannot also be said of a robotic and thus essentially cheaper mission than one with a crew.
So, for example, if a member of the crew on the Moon gets sick in a way that is beyond what can be treated up there, it is possible, at least in principle, to send the patient back to Earth to receive adequate treatment in a matter of maybe four days.
And also far easier to get supplies from Earth and to send back whatever is worth sending back, while staying in radio and video contact with people down here two-way, with just a two-second delay altogether.

Once that has gone on for long enough and the necessary technology for a more intensive occupation of another unfriendly but also far more distant world becomes available, in part thanks to what has been learned on the Moon, then maybe go to Mars.

I also agree that developing reusable boosters, as for example the SpaceX ones, is the way to go.
 
  • #122
 
  • #124
There is a Falcon 9 launch planned for mid November (9.-15.), sending a bunch of payloads towards the Moon, including at least two rovers and an orbiter. We might get two missions to the Moon within days of each other, and very likely pictures with both being on their respective launch pads.
 
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  • #125
mfb said:
There is a Falcon 9 launch planned for mid November (9.-15.), sending a bunch of payloads towards the Moon, including at least two rovers and an orbiter. We might get two missions to the Moon within days of each other, and very likely pictures with both being on their respective launch pads.
Lordy, so many projects going on at the same time now. Is there a Cliffs Notes summary web page somewhere that shows the status of all of the different launch efforts? It seems like there are 5-10 different efforts going on right now simultaneously in different states of preparation...
 
  • #126
berkeman said:
Is there a Cliffs Notes summary web page somewhere that shows the status of all of the different launch efforts?
How about just a list of up coming launches:
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
 
  • #127

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  • #128
berkeman said:
Lordy, so many projects going on at the same time now. Is there a Cliffs Notes summary web page somewhere that shows the status of all of the different launch efforts? It seems like there are 5-10 different efforts going on right now simultaneously in different states of preparation...
Wikipedia
SpaceflightNow
Next Spaceflight
Different levels of detail and inclusion criteria but important launches or launches in the next week are covered by all.
 
  • #131
It seems they just can't catch the wind in their sails for this one. :frown:
 
  • #132
I want to be optimistic. But Boeing has been making this very hard for me:
We will have a perfect SLS launch this month.
We will have a perfect SLS launch this month.
We will have a perfect SLS launch this month.
 
  • #133
It's now subtropical storm Nicole.

SLS is expected to stay on the launch pad as hurricane-strength speeds are unlikely. SpaceX has delayed a launch of geostationary satellites to Saturday, waiting for the storm to pass.
 
  • #135
mfb said:
the third one would collide with thanksgiving
In the famous words of Jose Jimenez (on the Ed Sullivan Show), "Oh I hope not..." :smile:
 
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  • #136
Nicole started moving away and getting weaker, but winds were stronger than expected - it looks like they temporarily exceeded the design ratings of the rocket. A former Space Shuttle engineer expects weeks of inspections and computer simulations to determine if the rocket is still fine in that case. As far as I understand that would also involve moving the rocket back to the VAB again, exchange the batteries again, re-certify the boosters for an even longer time in stacked configuration, ...
Here is a longer discussion and here is the Twitter thread discussing how NASA deals with violated specifications.

Launch opportunities:
* Until Nov 27
* Dec 9 to 22
* Jan 7 to 20
* Feb 3 to 17
Calendar
 
  • #137
Where's Ralph Kramden when you need him?

a6EEm6b_460s.jpg
 
  • #138
If they need to return to VAB, they may need to evaluate the status of the solid rocket boosters.
I believe the they are scheduled to "expire" in December.
 
  • #139
We've been trying to reach you about your rocket's extended warranty.
"When you stack your first segment on the aft segment, you start a clock that was originally 12 months," Lanhan said. "It's currently been analyzed up to 23 months, and that expires. One piece expires on the ninth of December of this year, and the other one is the 14th of December of this year."

Another environmental exposure rating expires on Dec. 15, he added.
It's very likely they can extend these certifications to December 22, but it's not getting better.

Wind speeds reached 100 mph, which is definitely more than it was rated for, but there are no signs of damage:
NASA says camera inspections show very minor damage and still plans to launch the Artemis One rocket on Wednesday.
 
  • #140
Yesterday afternoon, NASA posted that SLS had been inspected after Nicole and is clear to launch.
So the launch date is still NET Wednesday (Nov 16 ).
 
  • #142
A bit of insulation was stripped from the upper part, specifically the connection between Orion and its fairing. No chance to repair it on the pad, so they have to determine if it's okay to fly like this.

The launch countdown has started, 41 hours to go. So far it's mainly powering up things, the more critical phase of the countdown begins ~10 hours before the planned launch. The core stage will be fueled with hydrogen slower and earlier this time.
 
  • #143
mfb said:
A bit of insulation was stripped from the upper part
Beautiful photos. Thanks.
 
  • #145
Fueling is ongoing, hydrogen has reached the fast-fill phase (oxygen as well, but that's the easy part). Ramping up to that fast-fill method has caused the problems in the past, so this step has been fixed. 6:27 to go.

Edit: Core stage is fully fueled!
 
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  • #146
No launch attempt would be complete without a hydrogen leak!
This time it's small and in the top-up procedure, where liquid hydrogen flows at a lower rate to counter boil-off. A "red team" has been sent to the rocket in order to fix it.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/11/15/artemis-1-launch-mission-status-center/

2:30

Edit: Leak fixed, now there is an issue with the range (safety), possibly moving the launch a bit within its two hour window.

0:50 assuming no delay
 
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  • #147
The exact launch time is currently unclear. The next event will be the launch director polling all stations if they are ready for launch. Once every system is "go" they can start the final 10 minute countdown. That means the beginning of the poll will be ~15 minutes before the launch, but there is no fixed requirement when it has to start. Could be at any time in the next 2 hours.

NASA livestream, 320k watching
NASAspaceflight, 57k watching
Everyday Astronaut, 42k watching

Edit: Now no earlier than 1:44 AM local time, in half an hour.

1:35: Launch poll started. ETA ~1:47.
 
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  • #148
1668580738702.png


Let's go!
 
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  • #149
LIFTOFF!

Boosters have separated, center core keeps firing, 4.5 minutes into the flight, so far everything looks great.

Edit: Reached a temporary orbit from the first stage as planned, solar panels of Orion have unfolded. The second stage burn will push it towards the Moon in a bit.

Edit2: Trans-lunar injection burn was a success, we had stage separation. SLS did its job and Orion is going to the Moon. It will make a first fly-by November 21.
 
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  • #150
Watched the launch last night from about 8:15 PST. ( With my fingers and toes crossed). Had to hit the hay shortly after. Glad to hear that everything went smoothly after that.
 
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