NASA Only Has A Few Days To Successfully Launch

It’s the moment of truth: since last Saturday, the Kennedy Space Center has been bustling with the comings and goings of NASA engineers. The agency has launched its final passing exam: the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). For 48 hours, the engineers will force-feed the tanks of the Space Launch System (SLS) with more than 2.6 million liters of cryogenic fuel. The objective being to follow the takeoff procedure to the nearest second, up to T-29 secondsto ensure that the launcher and the 39B launch pad communicate in perfect symbiosis.

It is on this success that the fate of the Artemis II mission will depend. If the SLS drinks its fuel without hiccups, Reid Wiseman and his crew will finally be able to break away from Earth’s gravity. The date with history is set for Sunday February 8 (i.e. Monday February 9 at 5:20 a.m. Paris time). For the most passionate among you, NASA is currently broadcasting images of the rocket in preparation live on YouTube (see below).

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Traffic jam in orbit: the timing dilemma

If it is this launch that attracts all attention, NASA must play on two tables at the same time. Indeed, she is also obliged to manage the succession of the crew of the International Space Station (ISS). An accelerated mission following the premature return of the Crew-11 astronauts, an emergency evacuation which just took place on January 14.

The schedule is therefore very tight: if a launch to the Moon is theoretically possible almost every day, operational and sunlight constraints reduce the opportunities to a few windows per month. No choice therefore: if the SLS does not leave its launch pad by February 11, the latest deadline for this month, Artemis II will have to give up its place.

“An exciting time”

Despite a tension that we imagine is at its height, the excitement within the astronaut corps is total. And for good reason: both crews are in the same boat. Jack Hathaway, who is part of the next flight to the ISS, says enthusiastically: “ We couldn’t ask for a more incredible moment: they’re in quarantine, we’re in quarantine, and we’re trying to launch two rockets almost at the same time. It’s a truly exciting time to be part of NASA ».

If the green light is given on February 8, the four astronauts (Reid Wiseman, commander, Victor Glover, pilot, Christina Koch, mission specialist and Jeremy Hansen, who occupies the same role) will set off on a ten-day journey. They won’t land on the moon but will fly over our satellite and will perform a free return trajectory to return to Earth.

By taking advantage of lunar gravity like a slingshot, the Orion capsule will be propelled towards Earth without having to restart its main engines and will hit the Earth’s atmosphere at around 40,000 km/h before gently landing in the Pacific Ocean. US Navy helicopters (Sikorsky MH 60-S Seahawk) will then come and hoist them up and the capsule, once stabilized by buoys, will be recovered by the ship. USS Somerset.

In the process, they will beat the record for the greatest distance reached from Earth by a human crewstill held by Apollo 13 (400,171 km). The crew of Artemis II will reach 400,700 km because they will pass 10,300 km behind the far side of the Moon. Let’s pray that everything goes according to plan and that NASA doesn’t have to postpone the launch again: the agency is playing here with the credibility of its entire programwhich has received much criticism. If the launch is successful before February 11, she will be able to enjoy her return to the forefront : prepare the tissues, the show promises to be breathtaking !