KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The countdown to launch has resumed, and the Artemis I mission management team has given a “go” for Saturday’s launch attempt of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, NASA said.
Since the previous launch attempt on Monday, teams have updated procedures, practiced operations and refined timelines, NASA said.
Over the last couple days, teams fixed a leak on the tail service mast umbilical by replacing a flex-hose and a loose pressure sensor line.
They also tightened the bolts surrounding that enclosure to ensure a tight seal when the super-cooled propellants flow through those lines. While there was no leak detected at ambient temperatures, NASA said, teams will continue to monitor during tanking operations.
On Saturday, technicians will adjust the procedures to chill down the engines, also called the kick start bleed test, about 30 to 45 minutes earlier in the countdown during the liquid hydrogen fast fill phase for the core stage. This will to allow for additional time to cool the engines to appropriate temperatures for launch.
The weather looks good, too, for Saturday according to meteorologists with the Space Force Space Launch Delta 45. They predict 60% favorable weather conditions, improving throughout the launch window.
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