ORLANDO, Fla. — To use a theatre metaphor, the curtain has not yet been drawn on NASA’s opportunities to launch the Artemis I mission this month.

During a media teleconference on Thursday, Sept. 8, NASA leaders said they are working towards a plan that could see the 322-foot-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft launch as soon as either Sept. 23 or 27.

What You Need To Know

  • The Eastern Range needs to give NASA a waiver on its Flight Termination System batteries in the core stage of the rocket to attempt more September launches

  • The range is currently evaluating NASA’s request

  • If approved, it would help pave the way for a launch attempt on either Sept. 23 or 27

SLS Chief Engineer John Blevins said he’s confident that they have the right people and architecture to overcome the leak issue that scrubbed the Sept. 3 launch attempt.

“I get to see the inner workings of this team and where we’re at and I feel real good about the ability to pivot and solve problems that we encounter,” Blevins said. “And I feel very confident that the teams will solve the problem that’s keeping us from a launch."

Blevins and the team discussed a plan that’s in motion to make repairs to the rocket while at the pad at Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B). Following that, they hope to run a cryogenic test on or about Sept. 17.

That would involve loading liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) into the tanks of both the core and upper stages of the SLS rocket. The upper stage is the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) provided by United Launch Alliance (ULA).

(NASA described the components of the SLS core stage during its first launch attempt on Aug. 29, 2022. (NASA via Twitter))

NASA hopes that cryo test will illustrate that their fix to the hydrogen leak will stand up during the next launch attempt. 

Eastern Range makes the call

The dates of Sept. 23 and 27 were submitted to Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45, which manages the Eastern Range from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The team, which includes the 1st Range Operations Squadron (1 ROPS), is going over data and the formal proposal to extend the certification of the rocket’s core stage flight termination system (TPS) batteries. 

NASA hopes for an answer ahead of when they want to do the tanking test.

“We’re continuing to look for if the range has questions. Obviously, we’d like to hear from them, but we’re following their process,” said Jim Free, the associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.

“So right now, we submitted the waiver and we’ll look to hear from them on any clarifications that they need from us.”

Spectrum News reached out to SLD 45 on Thursday and they sent the following statement about their ongoing talks:

“Space Launch Delta 45, operator of the Eastern Range, is in discussions with NASA to review its request for an extension of the certification of the Space Launch System rocket’s Flight Termination System. The launch criteria for each vehicle are used to develop mission rules that govern the allowable flight behavior to ensure public safety, which is the foremost job of the Eastern Range.

“SLD 45 and the Eastern Range have enjoyed a trusted partnership with NASA that dates back to the earliest days of human spaceflight. SLD 45 will continue to provide NASA the launch infrastructure and range resources required to assure safe access to space.”

Artemis, others jockey for room in NASA’s schedule

While the uncrewed Artemis I mission is one of the key items on NASA’s agenda, it is by no means the only star of the show. 

In just over two weeks, NASA’s planetary defense mission DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) will reach its asteroid for impact. Free said on Thursday that if they launch on Sept. 23, that would free up the Deep Space Network for the necessary communications with the DART spacecraft, which launched back on Nov. 24, 2021.

“If we are fortunate enough to get the waiver from the range, and to actually launch on the 23rd, our critical requirements, post initial launch, would fall on the other side of the impact of DART on the 26th,” Free said. 

He added that a launch on Sept. 27 puts them on the opposite side of the DART mission, which would be equally acceptable.

(NASA’s DART mission is set to intercept the moonlet of asteroid Didymos on Sept. 26, 2022. The mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in November 2021 (NASA))

Free also alluded to “some other activities on the range that are scheduled for the 30th,” but didn’t offer specifics about those entail.

He also noted that they looked at a third date in this series of potential launch dates (collectively known as launch period 26). However, Free said that this third possible date would conflict with the schedule that the SpaceX Crew-5 mission is trying to establish. 

The four-member international crew is currently scheduled to launch from LC-39A no earlier than Monday, Oct. 3, at 12:45 p.m.

If this plan isn’t able to move forward, NASA would likely roll the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building and try for a launch during launch period 27 or 28. 

·      LP 27 – Oct. 17-31

o   11 launch opportunities

o   No launch availability on Oct. 24-26 and 28

·      LP 28 – Nov. 12-27 (preliminary)

o   12 launch opportunities 

o   No launch availability on Nov. 20, 21 and 26