NASA SLS (Space Launch System) Moon Rocket Hotfire Test has undergone an early engine shutdown during the past weekend, as reported by Space. Performing another "hot fire" test in the next weeks is still vague right after initial test last January 16 at the NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The intended plan was to allow the engine to burn for a span of 485 seconds. However, it was cut down after an issue within just 67 seconds.
SLS Moon Rocket Shutdown Not an Engine or Hardware Issue
NASA has since then analyzed the possible cause of the event. Upon troubleshooting, they determined that it was not an engine or hardware issue. In fact the two remained in "excellent condition", according to a blogpost in NASA's official website. Rather, the cause of the shutdown according to the experts "was triggered by test parameters that were intentionally conservative to ensure the safety of the core stage during the test."
According to BGR, the test "failure" is not really a failure. Apparently, the test parameters were the cause of the shutdown. These included the engine hydraulics. Specifically, it was the system that was meant to pivot or gimbal every engine during the fleat. On the day of the hot fire testing, the parameters for the system of Engine 2 were unfortunately exceeded. As a result, the core stage's flight computers had no choice but to end the test as an automatic response to the exceeded parameters. Moreover, the experts interpreted that even if the same would happen in an actual flight, the SLS would still be able to fly despite the issue.
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Another issue that they have discovered was a "major component failure" (MCF) from the core during the test. 1.5 seconds after the engines started, the reading interpreted that diagnosis. However, the MCF reading was not the main issue of the shutdown, according to NASA officials.
Nonetheless, the SLS team continues to dive deeper into the readings and results of the MCF reading. They will also continue to analyze "bright flashes" that were observed proximate to the engines around the same time that the shutdown happened. In the meantime, they reported that sensor data as well as visual inspection in the area are normal.
SLS Testing Vital to NASA's Artemis Program
SLS is an important fleat for the Artemis Program of NASA. When these tests succeed, it will push forward the plan to land two astronauts in the lunar south pole by 2024. In addition, it is expected to establish a stable human presence within the area and on the moon itself before the decade ends. The hotfire test that was conducted last week is part of the Artemis 1 mission, which is an uncrewed test flight around the moon.
The SLS plans to do a series of hotfire tests to assess the feasibility of performing the Artemis mission. So far, the test results do not pose a very alarming threat to the mission, only a requirement to revisit some technicalities.
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Written by Nikki D
