Artemis I Moon rocket will return to Launch Pad 39B in early June – Parabolic Arc

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) – The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are scheduled to return to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early June for the next wet dress rehearsal to attempt.

Engineers have successfully completed work on a number of items seen in the previous wet rehearsal test. This includes resolving the liquid hydrogen system leak at the tail service mast umbilical, replacing the check valve and supporting hardware of the propulsion stage helium gas system Interim Cryogenic (ICPS), modification of the ICPS umbilical purge boots, and confirmation that there is no impact on Orion as a result of the storms and resulting water intrusion on the launch pad. The team also updated the software to address issues encountered when storing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in previous rehearsal attempts.

Purge boots are not flight gear, but enclose an area around the ICPS umbilical – the connection between the mobile launcher and the upper stage – to protect it from the natural environment during propellant loading.

In the meantime, the nitrogen gas contractor has completed repairs to the distribution system that will be used to support the Artemis launch and test campaign. Repairs and testing have ensured the system is ready to support tanking operations. During wet dress rehearsal and launch, teams use nitrogen gas to purge the rocket, including its umbilical plates, and to support other operations.

Engineers are also completing some of the upcoming work originally planned in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after the dress rehearsal. This includes opening the Orion Crew Mod hatch and installing certain payloads, such as hardware items for the Callisto Technology Demonstrationflight kit locker and container sets for space biology experiment.

Once the few remaining checks are complete, teams will retract the platforms inside the VAB to prepare SLS and Orion to deploy to pad 39B. Plans call for the next wet dress rehearsal to take place approximately 14 days after the rocket arrives on pad.