NASA Space Launch System Hot Shot Test: When to Watch

NASA has spent years and billions of dollars developing a giant rocket known as the Space Launch System, designed to take astronauts to the moon and possibly further into the solar system one day. But the rocket’s first launch – an unmanned test flight that will go to the moon and beyond – won’t take off until at least November.

This Saturday, however, NASA is expected to put on a fiery spectacle as it performs a crucial test: firing all four booster stage engines for eight minutes, simulating what would happen during an actual launch into orbit. The recall, however, will remain securely held on a test bed at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

When is the test fire and how can I watch it?

The test firing is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. EST. NASA Television will broadcast coverage of the test starting at 4:20 p.m. A press conference is scheduled to follow approximately two hours after the test.

What is Space Launch System and why does NASA say it needs the rocket?

The Space Launch System is the 21st century equivalent of the Saturn V that took NASA astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s. While there are many other rockets available today, they are too many. small for launching spacecraft that can carry people to the moon. (One possible exception is SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, but a human lunar mission would require two separate launches carrying parts that would then either dock together in space or head separately to the moon.)

The Falcon Heavy can lift up to 64 metric tons in low earth orbit. The initial version of the SLS is a bit more powerful, capable of lifting 70 metric tons, and future versions of the rocket will be able to smooth up to 130 metric tons, more than the rockets that carried the Apollo astronauts to the moon.

Although the space launch system will be expensive – up to $ 2 billion per launch for a rocket that can only be used once – Congress has so far provided it with constant financial support. Supporters argue that it’s important for the government to own and operate its own powerful rocket in deep space, and parts of the system are being built by companies across the country, extending the economic benefits to many states. and congressional districts.

The space launch system is a key part of Artemis, the program to bring NASA astronauts back to the moon for years to come. Although President Trump pledged to make the trip by the end of 2024, few expected NASA to actually meet this timeline, even before President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Why is the rocket so behind schedule?

When NASA announced its plans for the space launch system in 2011, the first launch was scheduled for 2016. As is usually the case with new rocket designs, development has encountered technical challenges, such as that the need to develop procedures to weld metal parts together. large like those of the rocket. NASA also suspended work on the rocket for a time last year during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

As the date of the first launch has slipped several times, the price has increased. NASA has so far spent more than $ 10 billion on the rocket and more than $ 16 billion on the Orion capsule where the astronauts will be seated.

Why is the test fire important?

The test fire is part of what NASA calls the green race, a series of fully assembled booster stage tests. The same booster will be used for the first flight into space, so engineers want to make sure it performs as intended before launching it.

What could go wrong during the test?

Just like with a real launch, technical issues arise. In an earlier test, known as the wet dress rehearsal, in which the entire countdown was simulated except for the ignition of the engines, almost everything went well. But for the last few seconds, one of the thruster valves didn’t close as soon as expected. It turned out the temperature was a bit lower than expected, which made the valve a bit harder to turn. The software has since been adjusted.

The worst case would be if a malfunction resulted in the destruction of the booster. This would add years of delay to the program and renew calls for NASA to consider alternatives.