Once Again

NASA fuels moon rocket in test, hit again with pesky leaks
[apnews.com]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new moon rocket sprouted more fuel leaks Wednesday in a test ahead of a possible launch attempt next week, but engineers managed to get them down to acceptable levels.

There was no immediate decision on whether NASA would try for a liftoff Tuesday given the sporadic nature of the hydrogen leaks, which have bedeviled the launch team for months.

Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson wouldn’t commit to a launch attempt date, although she said the test went well.

“We’ll go take a look at the data,” she said. “I’d like the team to have an opportunity to look at that before I speculate.”

The daylong demo had barely begun when hazardous hydrogen fuel began escaping at the same place and same time as before, despite new seals and other repairs. Engineers halted the flow and warmed the lines in hopes of plugging the leak, and proceeded with the test. But the leak persisted before dropping to acceptable levels. Hours later, another leak cropped up elsewhere, before tapering down.

Blackwell-Thompson said all test objectives were met. But managers need to review the results before determining whether the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is ready for its first test flight, a lunar-orbiting mission with mannequins instead of astronauts.

Nobody died.

Success!!

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Time to bring in real plumbers to get to the bottom of the leaks -- Mario and Luigi.

“It's a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.” -- Alan Shepard

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Liquid hydrogen is a pain in the butt to deal with...
It leaks through the SMALLEST opening (literally... no molecule is smaller than "H")... and at Liquid Hydrogens temperatures, EVERYTHING thermally contracts, opening new ways for it to leak...

I have a LOT of problems with SLS... on this, I cut 'em some slack. Hydrogen sucks to deal with.

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

switch to hydrazine?

Quote
Bill in NC
switch to hydrazine?

Easier to find the leaks... just look for the red clouds of vapor, and the dead bodies.
On second thought, maybe using Methane IS the better idea, like SpaceX. Lower specific impulse, but way easier to store, and fewer leaks.

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

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--
Eureka, CA

Quote
Paul F.

Quote
Bill in NC
switch to hydrazine?

Easier to find the leaks... just look for the red clouds of vapor, and the dead bodies.
On second thought, maybe using Methane IS the better idea, like SpaceX. Lower specific impulse, but way easier to store, and fewer leaks.

Great Ars Technica article on this very subject. [arstechnica.com]