On February 19, NASA conducted a second dress rehearsal for the launch of the SLS rocket. Unlike the previous attempt, this time the operation was successful, paving the way for the Artemis II mission to the Moon.
The dress rehearsal (also known as a “wet dress rehearsal”) is a crucial test before the launch of the super-heavy SLS rocket. As part of this process, engineers completely fill its tanks with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, after which a pre-launch countdown is conducted. The test program also includes monitoring the technical condition of the mobile launch platform and communications between the Mission Control Center and the launch site.
The first refueling attempt failed due to hydrogen leaks. They forced specialists to replace seals and filters in the interface used to supply fuel to the rocket.
The repair was a success. During a second attempt on February 19, engineers managed to fully fuel the rocket and switch to continuous fuel supply mode — an important indicator of the system’s readiness for launch. The hydrogen concentration at the launch site remained within acceptable limits.
However, there were some problems. At the beginning of the refueling operations, specialists encountered a loss of ground communication at the Mission Control Center. Operators temporarily switched to backup systems to ensure the safety of refueling operations until normal communication channels were restored. Later, the faulty equipment was identified and shut down.
The successful refueling of SLS paves the way for the Artemis II mission, in which three NASA astronauts and one Canadian Space Agency astronaut will fly around the Moon. This flight will be the first mission since 1972 in which humans will travel beyond Earth’s orbit. The nearest launch windows for the flight to the Moon will be open between March 6 and 9, as well as on March 11.
You can find out more about the Artemis II flight plan in our article.
