Good omen for the Artemis program, the SLS lunar mega-rocket, Space Launch Systemwhich took off for the first time on November 16, 2022, appears to have lived up to expectations, if not better according to the first conclusions of the flight data analysis.
November 16 was a historic day in the US space program. Everything could have ended there if the Space Launch System (SLS) had failed in its mission: to take off and put the Orion spacecraft into orbit. But, before our amazed eyes, it had taken off successfully and the Artemis I mission went well.
By the time the Orion ship returned to Earth on December 11, the Artemis I mission was complete. As a reminder, this mission was empty, uninhabited with just mannequins carrying various experiences. NASA was not going to risk the lives of its astronauts aboard a ship and an extraordinary launcher that had never flown before. The goal of Artemis I was to qualify everything, and the data seems to be pointing in the right direction.
Painstaking work for the safety of astronauts
We can give the green light to the first manned mission, Artemis II, only if the flight data allows it. Regarding the SLS, the teams collected no less than 4 terabytes of data and video images taken by various on-board cameras during the flight and pre-launch phases. Added to this are nearly 31 terabytes of images taken from the ground or the air!
These flight data supplement the very large amount of data obtained during the various ground tests and simulations. Even though the proportions of the SLS are rather unique, the teams knew pretty well what to expect from it. However, flight data was essential to predict the behavior of the SLS during certain phases of flight, such as booster separation. To witness and quantify each event during the flight, on-board cameras and various sensors were strategically positioned at several locations on the launcher.
NASA engineers also analyzed the temperatures and sounds of the mega-rocket recorded just after liftoff. The data was used to certify that the RS-25 engines (from various space shuttles) of the central block supplied by Boeing were operating as intended. The thrust provided was that expected to within 0.5%. Internal pressures and temperatures matched predictions within 2%.
It’s positive for Artemis II!
The central block of the SLS functioned correctly throughout its flight and the orbiting of the upper stage ICPS and the Orion spacecraft took place successfully. The transfer orbit, on which the ICPS and Orion were placed, had a small error of only three kilometers, which remains within acceptable margins. Later in the flight, the injection into translunar orbit was “almost perfect”.
We can therefore say that the SLS worked as expected, or even better. According to NASA, the mega-rocket was ” meets or better than performance expectations “. The test seems successful, but it is specified that these conclusions published by NASA on January 27 are preliminary and that the analysis of the data is not finished. Only the final report will decide.
The green light for Artemis II also depends on the Orion spacecraft, which was also tested with Artemis I. Since its landing on December 11, the spacecraft’s manned capsule has been transported au Kennedy Space Center to Cape Canaveral for analysis.
In the meantime, NASA is preparing for Artemis II. The two modules of the Orion ship are being integrated into the Kennedy Space Centerand the mobile launch pad (crawler) is being improved. In the coming months, NASA will announce the selected crew. Artemis II will be the first manned mission and will take place around our natural satellite from 2024, Artemis III will be the return mission for astronauts to the surface.
