NASA is on the brink of a monumental event, as preparations are underway to launch four astronauts on a groundbreaking mission around the moon. A crucial test known as a “wet dress rehearsal” is set for Monday, which will determine if the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is ready for flight. This elaborate simulation involves fully fueling the rocket and executing every step leading up to about 30 seconds before liftoff, mirroring the actual launch day experience.
The results of this rehearsal will be vital for engineers and mission managers to assess the rocket’s readiness for the much-anticipated Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than Sunday. This mission will take its crew farther from Earth than any humans have traveled before over a 10-day journey around the moon.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will oversee a press briefing alongside the Artemis II crew, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. These astronauts have been in quarantine for the last week and a half at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to ensure their health ahead of the mission.
The Artemis II mission marks the second spaceflight for the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule, but this mission is uniquely significant as it will be the first to carry humans, propelling NASA further toward its objective of returning astronauts to the lunar surface.
Engineers will simulate the countdown to a planned launch time of 9 p.m. ET Monday. During this process, they will load over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the rocket and provide a live broadcast of the tanking procedure. Mission managers will perform stops and restarts during the final ten minutes of the countdown to evaluate the rocket’s health, particularly focusing on automatic systems designed to take over control shortly before liftoff.
Originally, the wet dress rehearsal was scheduled for Saturday, but was delayed due to unexpectedly cold weather impacting the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions. This delay has affected potential launch opportunities, eliminating the first two days of the launch window stretching through February 11, with additional opportunities available in March and April if necessary.
For the mission to remain on schedule for this month, the wet dress rehearsal must proceed smoothly. Should the test reveal any significant issues requiring further adjustments, NASA may have to return the rocket to its Vehicle Assembly Building, reminiscent of the delays faced during the uncrewed Artemis I flight due to hydrogen leak issues.
As excitement builds around this pivotal moment in space exploration, a positive outcome from the rehearsal could usher in a new era of lunar exploration, bringing humanity closer to our return to the moon.