Artemis Moon Program

[publiusr]

I wish it all the best. SLS outlived it’s home at least

Watch von Braun NASA HQ in Huntsville come down

Fourteen directors including von Braun led Marshall from this building. America’s moon rockets and space shuttles, the James Webb Space Telescope and its predecessors and successors, and the International Space Station were all built, tested or managed by Marshall.

www.al.com

 

[FighterJock]

I wish it all the best. SLS outlived it’s home at least

Watch von Braun NASA HQ in Huntsville come down

Fourteen directors including von Braun led Marshall from this building. America’s moon rockets and space shuttles, the James Webb Space Telescope and its predecessors and successors, and the International Space Station were all built, tested or managed by Marshall.

www.al.com

So what will happen to the land that the old NASA HQ was built on? Get sold or used by NASA for something else.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Supposed to be the site for a new, supposedly more sustainable, NASA admin building complex.
I have a feeling that this project will make SLS look positively sane in comparison.

 

[FighterJock]

Supposed to be the site for a new, supposedly more sustainable, NASA admin building complex.
I have a feeling that this project will make SLS look positively sane in comparison.

Suppose we will have to wait and see what happens when the new building gets built.

 

[Grey Havoc]

NASA’s Lunar Flashlight Ready to Search for the Moon’s Water Ice

Set for a November launch, the small satellite mission will use lasers to search for water ice inside the darkest craters at the Moon’s South Pole.

www.nasa.gov

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587069936320630786

View: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1587069936320630786

NASA’s Jim Free says that “people feel comfortable with the imagery we have” for a night launch of SLS, so proceeding with the next launch attempt Nov. 14 at 12:07 am EST.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587070038514847746

View: https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1587070038514847746

Artemis I is presently scheduled for the middle of the night. NASA's Jim Free says the agency has looked at concerns over being able to see fewer of the rocket details during ascent of the test flight. However, he said, “Everybody feels comfortable with the imagery we have."

 

[Flyaway]

The hydrogen leak still remains something of a mystery.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587079924871036928

View: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1587079924871036928

NASA’s Amit Kshatriya says they have not determined the exact cause for the hydrogen leak seen in the previous Artemis 1 launch attempt; still some open branches in the fault tree but have mitigations in place to deal with them.

 

[FighterJock]

The hydrogen leak still remains something of a mystery.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587079924871036928

View: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1587079924871036928

NASA’s Amit Kshatriya says they have not determined the exact cause for the hydrogen leak seen in the previous Artemis 1 launch attempt; still some open branches in the fault tree but have mitigations in place to deal with them.

I suppose we will never exactly know what the true cause of the hydrogen leaks were that blighted the past launch attempts of the Artemis 1.

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587510645540507649

View: https://twitter.com/nasagroundsys/status/1587510645540507649

This afternoon, @NASA's crawler-transporter 2 arrived at the enormous exterior door of the Vehicle Assembly
Building's High Bay 3 at
@NASAKennedy. The crawler will carry @NASA_SLS and @NASA_Orion to Pad
39B no earlier than Nov. 4.

 

[FighterJock]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587510645540507649

View: https://twitter.com/nasagroundsys/status/1587510645540507649

This afternoon, @NASA's crawler-transporter 2 arrived at the enormous exterior door of the Vehicle Assembly
Building's High Bay 3 at
@NASAKennedy. The crawler will carry @NASA_SLS and @NASA_Orion to Pad
39B no earlier than Nov. 4.

Oh Good, so it looks like the Nov.14th launch is still going ahead. Weather and hydrogen leeks permitting.

 

[NMaude]

Launch Pad Astronomy has posted a rollout video:

Seven hours till the start of the rollout.

 

[Flyaway]

Archived roll out video:

 

[NMaude]

Artemis 1 is now at the launch pad being hooked up to its utilities:

 

[publiusr]

Now if Boeing’s Pakleds just hook it up right.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Amateur radio operators and more will track NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission

A lot of eyes will be on the epic Artemis 1 mission.

www.space.com

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1589995643212218368

View: https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1589995643212218368

Yikes. Latest windspeed probabilities now show the chance of hurricane force winds over Kennedy Space Center at 15 percent.

Tropical Storm Nicole Wind Speed Probabilities

 

[Grey Havoc]

A nice picture from November 4th:

ORIGINAL CAPTION: The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft emerge from the Vehicle Assembly Building to head to Launch Complex 39B for a Nov. 14 launch. Credit: Jordan Sirokie

SLS returns to the pad for next Artemis launch attempt - SpaceNews

The Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft rolled back out to the launch pad Nov. 4 as the agency prepares for the third Artemis 1 launch attempt.

spacenews.com

 

[NMaude]

TW@N has some more news regarding Artemis 1 and related missions:

 

[Flyaway]

It should be noted that the author of this article Eric Berger is a former meteorologist. So he does have an idea what he’s talking about here.

NASA leaves its Artemis I rocket exposed to winds above design limits

NASA likely to begin inspections of the rocket and spacecraft later today.

arstechnica.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Regarding the AFRL’s Oracle program, formerly known as the 'Cislunar Highway Patrol System':

Air Force Research Lab awards $76 million for lunar experimentation

AFRL expects the Oracle satellite to launch in 2025 and have a two-year mission life.

www.defensenews.com

 

[publiusr]

Can I be Ponch?

 

[NMaude]

Can I be Ponch?

Don't you mean Poncho? Anyway I think that Eric Estrada would be getting a bit long in the tooth for this.

 

[NMaude]

Well it looks like NASA is still on track for a November 16 launch of Artemis 1:

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591159589499641856

View: https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1591159589499641856

NASA's chief of exploration systems development, Jim Free, is leading a briefing on Artemis I. Says "Right now there’s nothing preventing us from getting to the 16th." So launch is targeted for 1:04 am ET on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591160536099880960

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591160536099880960

4/x. Some issues being worked: Lose RTV on Orion probably going to snip off, can be reached form Crew Arm, and not replace; tear in engine rain covers that will be repaired; some water in Crew Arm that was taken care of. Those are behind us, I think.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591160708544491520

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591160708544491520

5/x. One umbilical to Orion is out of its tray, but folks are going to move it back into place working on the swing arm to do that.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591161038023655453

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591161038023655453

6/x. Ground side electrical umbilical on Hydrogen tail service mast that was exhibiting odd signals. Teams taking that apart now and working on replacing that harness if needed. Backup harness is here at KSC.

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591161758823186443

View: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1591161758823186443

Free: measured wind at several levels on the SLS; did not exceed certification at any of the levels.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591161660399833088

View: https://twitter.com/bubbinski/status/1591161660399833088

During the event all measurements taken showed no breaking of the limits (for the vehicle). None exceeded for certification limits. Never saw anything above those limits, have 25% of margin above that before we get to 1.4 factor of safety.

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591161794424606720

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591161794424606720

9/x. NASA notes they would have preferred to roll back to the VAB, but there wasn't time once the forecast changed after rolling out.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591162014197424128

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591162014197424128

10/x. Near term plan: Power-up vehicle today. Program tests on Sunday, L-2 meeting Monday at 1600 local, then press to launch count.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591162558614245380

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591162558614245380

11/x. Purges were on the whole time, and indications are that those purges worked and interfaces should be good.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591163129660346370

View: https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1591163129660346370

12/x. NASA says there were higher winds readings, but at heights that aren't a concern as other elements on rocket indicate limits weren't exceeded.

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591169525466152960

View: https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/1591169525466152960

Free says the FAA has given them the go ahead for Nov 25 if they need it. [Have 19th as a backup before that.]

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1591174083294945280

View: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1591174083294945280

Free says the SLS stack rated for 11 rolls (one way) between VAB and LC-39B, the first time I recall that number. He says 6 rolls are left. But they’ve done 7 rolls now (2 roundtrips for WDRs, 1 roundtrip for earlier launch attempt and last week); either 4 left or rated for 13.

 

[Flyaway]

Teams Conduct Check-outs, Preparations Ahead of Next Artemis I Launch Attempt – Artemis

blogs.nasa.gov

 

[FighterJock]

Teams Conduct Check-outs, Preparations Ahead of Next Artemis I Launch Attempt – Artemis

blogs.nasa.gov

Let’s see if it does get launched this time round.

 

[NMaude]

What is this RTV being referenced?

 

[TomS]

What is this RTV being referenced?

Room temperature vulcanizing silicone caulk.

 

[NMaude]

What is this RTV being referenced?

Room temperature vulcanizing silicone caulk.

Thanks,, is it used in sealing the four ogive panels that make up the Orion CM's BPC after they're mated?

 

[NMaude]

Launch Pad Astronomy has a new NASA countdown about to go live in 40 minutes:

 

[TomS]

What is this RTV being referenced?

Room temperature vulcanizing silicone caulk.

Thanks,, is it used in sealing the four ogive panels that make up the Orion CM's BPC after they're mated?

No idea.

 

[TomcatViP]

Launch rescheduled form Wednesday 16th at 1AM EST (6am GMT & 7am CET)

For those having a hard time to get a clear mind before their shot of caffeine takes in... There is a direct link to cam live two post above

 

[Archibald]

Eeeerh... monday is tomorrow, and tomorrow is the 14th. I know that because it is my wife birthday (better not to forget it !)

 

[TomcatViP]

Eeeerh... monday is tomorrow, and tomorrow is the 14th. I know that because it is my wife birthday (better not to forget it !)

Since I made a mistake in my previous post (edited), here is the actual text from NASA.

NASA Sets New Coverage for Artemis I Moon Mission Launch​

NASA confirmed it remains on track for the launch of the Artemis I Moon mission during a two-hour launch window that opens at 1:04 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The  launch countdown will begin at 1:24 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

And Happy birthday to your Missy @Archibald

 

[Archibald]

Many thanks ! I'm lucky to have her, she is so sweet.

 

[NMaude]

Eeeerh... monday is tomorrow, and tomorrow is the 14th. I know that because it is my wife birthday (better not to forget it !)

Happy birthday to her.

I had my 50th birthday on November 11th, Armistice Day.