NASA - SLS Block 1/Orion - Artemis II - Wet Dress Rehearsal - LC-39B - KSC - Space Affairs Live

Описание: NASA’s integrated SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission is inching closer to launch – literally.

The countdown for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is underway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The countdown clock began at 8:13 p.m. EST, or L-48 hours, 40 minutes before the opening of a simulated launch window on February 2, 9:00 p.m. EST (February 3, 0200 UTC, 03:00 CET). The test is expected to last until approximately 1 a.m. February. 3, 0600 UTC, 07:00 CET.

This test will run the launch team, as well as supporting teams in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and other supporting NASA centers, through a full range of operations, including loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s tanks, conducting a launch countdown, demonstrating the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and draining the tanks to practice scrub procedures. These steps ensure the team is fully prepared for launch day.

Countdown Milestones
The countdown contains “L minus” and “T minus” times. “L minus” indicates how far away we are from liftoff in hours and minutes. “T minus” time is a sequence of events that are built into the countdown. Pauses in the countdown, or “holds,” are built into the countdown to allow the launch team to target a precise launch window, and to provide a cushion of time for certain tasks and procedures without impacting the overall schedule. During planned holds in the countdown process, the countdown clock is intentionally stopped and the T- time also stops. The L- time, however, continues to advance.

During the rehearsal, the team will execute a detailed countdown sequence. They will pause at T-1 minute and 30 seconds for up to three minutes, then resume until T-33 seconds before launch and pause again. After that, they will return the clock to T-10 minutes and conduct a second terminal countdown to approximately T-33 seconds, then end the sequence. This process simulates real-world conditions, including scenarios in which a launch may be scrubbed due to technical or weather issues. At the end of the test, the team will drain the propellant and review all data before setting an official target launch date.

While the Artemis II crew members are not participating in the wet dress rehearsal, crew milestones occurring during launch day will be incorporated into the test timeline, and the Artemis closeout crew will practice their closeout operations, which include closing the Orion crew module and launch abort system hatches.

Below are some of the key events that take place at each milestone after the countdown
begins. All times are approximate and subject to change.

The key events that take place at each milestone after the countdown can be checked at:

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2...

All times are approximate and subject to change.