Artemis planned to launch Saturday

NASA update on Artemis I scrub and launch readiness from the August 30th press briefing.

Mike Seraphin, NASA’s Artemis mission manager, John Honeycutt, SLS, Marshall Flight Center, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, Kennedy Space Center, and Mark Berger with Space Weather answered questions with the press after a brief recap.

Mike Seraphin led the recap with an outline of events leading to Monday’s scrub. After a flight readiness review, engineering teams agreed to Option #1, to change the loading procedure and start chill down earlier.

All eyes on Engine ‘3’ 👀

The team discussed temperature readings on engine 3, and how it never cooled down enough to proceed. Some ideas of ‘why’ were the line to the umbilical bleed lines are longer than the other 3 engines, or possible the sensor is improperly reading. A reporter queried if there was a ‘history of temperature sensors being off?’ and ‘when was the last time these were calibrated and checked.’ Honeycutt told reporters the sensor has been tested in the past, but not since it left the factory. “Sensors can be erratic.” said Honeycutt.

Just Chill ❄️

On Monday, the persnickety Engine 3 was 30 degrees higher than the other three RS-25s which put the launch window out of reach. The engines need to get to approximately minus 420 degrees F to be in range. The teams agree the best path forward is to start the chill down process 30 – 40 minutes earlier than before it ensure the engine can get into nominal range to proceed.

“If we can’t thermally condition the engines, we will not launch.” said Mike Seraphin. Teams are confident, because the vent line on the ground was producing good, cold numbers consistent with a successful launch.

New time 🕑

Saturday at 2:17 EST with a 2 hour launch window — and if it fills and scrubs, the commodity turn around would put us at Monday at the next earliest date. 48 hours required turnaround according to Charlie Blackwell Thompson.

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