• A second fueling test on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket ended Thursday night, giving senior managers enough confidence to move forward with plans to launch four astronauts around the Moon as soon as March 6. • Unlike the first attempt to load propellants into the SLS rocket on February 2, there were no major leaks during Thursday’s practice countdown at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. • Technicians swapped seals at the launch pad after hydrogen gas leaked from the rocket’s main fueling line earlier this month. • This time, the seals held. • “For the most part, those fixes all performed pretty well yesterday,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s exploration programs. • “We were able to fully fuel the SLS rocket within the planned timeline.” The results keep the Artemis II mission on track for liftoff as soon as next month.
Article Summaries:
- NASA’s second Space Launch System (SLS) fueling test at Kennedy Space Center went smoothly, with no major hydrogen leaks after earlier seal replacements. Acting associate administrator Lori Glaze said the rocket was fully fueled within the planned timeline, giving managers confidence to keep the Artemis II crewed lunar fly‑by on schedule. The mission, carrying Orion commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, could launch as early as 8:29 p.m. EST on March 6, pending final checks. If those remain complete, the nine‑ to ten‑day trip around the far side of the Moon would mark the first crewed lunar vicinity flight since 1972.
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