According to Twitter, components for the Artemis 4 and Artemis 5 missions are being manufactured. Are there any publicly available photos of components for the Artemis 4 and 5 missions under construction?
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/1-18-2022_heo-integrated-nac_lueders-free1.pdf
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 02/04/2022 09:13 pmAccording to Twitter, components for the Artemis 4 and Artemis 5 missions are being manufactured. Are there any publicly available photos of components for the Artemis 4 and 5 missions under construction?In the file posted earlier (below), there are images of a booster segment and the core stage engine section for Artemis IV on page 28.Quote from: XRZ.YZ on 01/19/2022 12:33 amhttps://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/1-18-2022_heo-integrated-nac_lueders-free1.pdf
While the third European Service Module continues to be built up in Bremen, the fourth Service Module structure is expected to arrive in the Summer. This module will be part of the Artemis IV mission and will see Orion push the I-Hab crew module to the lunar Gateway.
NASA joined the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage forward assembly with the 130-foot liquid hydrogen tank for the Artemis II mission on March 18. This completes assembly of four of the five large structures that make up the core stage that will help send the first astronauts to lunar orbit on Artemis II.The 66-foot forward assembly consists of the forward skirt, liquid oxygen tank and the intertank, which were mated earlier. Engineers inserted 360 bolts to connect the forward assembly to the liquid hydrogen tank to make up the bulk of the stage. Only the engine section, which is currently being outfitted and includes the main propulsion systems that connect to the four RS-25 engines, remains to be added to form the final core stage.
The core stage liquid hydrogen tank for the Artemis III mission completed proof testing, and technicians returned it to the main factory building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where it will undergo more outfitting. As part of proof testing, technicians apply a simple soap solution and check for leaks by observing any bubble formation on the welds. The technician removed the bubble solution with distilled water and then dried the area of application to prevent corrosion. To build the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s 130-foot core stage liquid hydrogen tank, engineers use robotic tools to weld five-barrel segments. This process results in a tank with around 1,900 feet, or more than six football fields, of welds that must be tested by hand. After the leak tests, the core stage lead, Boeing, pressurized the SLS tank to further ensure there were no leaks. After it passed proof testing, technicians moved the Artemis III liquid hydrogen tank to Michoud’s main factory. Soon, the technicians will prime and apply a foam-based thermal protection system that protects the tank during launch. Later, the tank will be joined with other parts of the core stage to form the entire 212-foot rocket stage with its four RS-25 engines that produce 2 million pounds of thrust to help launch the rocket. Artemis III will land the first astronauts on the lunar surface. Photographed on Monday, April 18, 2022.Source: https://images.nasa.gov/details-MAF_20220118_CS3_LH2_303to451_637
While the Artemis I team prepares for its upcoming mission, NASA and contractor teams are already building rockets to support future Artemis Moon missions. In United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) factory in Decatur, Alabama, major components have been completed for the Artemis III interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) that will provide the power to send astronauts to the Moon. The ICPS, which is built by ULA under a collaborative partnership with Boeing, provides in-space propulsion for the Orion spacecraft after the solid rocket boosters and core stage put SLS into an Earth orbit, and before the spacecraft is flying on its own. The liquid hydrogen tank (left) is built, and soon it will be mated to the intertank (right) that connects it with the liquid oxygen tank.
QuoteThe core stage liquid hydrogen tank for the Artemis III mission completed proof testing, and technicians returned it to the main factory building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where it will undergo more outfitting. As part of proof testing, technicians apply a simple soap solution and check for leaks by observing any bubble formation on the welds. The technician removed the bubble solution with distilled water and then dried the area of application to prevent corrosion. To build the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s 130-foot core stage liquid hydrogen tank, engineers use robotic tools to weld five-barrel segments. This process results in a tank with around 1,900 feet, or more than six football fields, of welds that must be tested by hand. After the leak tests, the core stage lead, Boeing, pressurized the SLS tank to further ensure there were no leaks. After it passed proof testing, technicians moved the Artemis III liquid hydrogen tank to Michoud’s main factory. Soon, the technicians will prime and apply a foam-based thermal protection system that protects the tank during launch. Later, the tank will be joined with other parts of the core stage to form the entire 212-foot rocket stage with its four RS-25 engines that produce 2 million pounds of thrust to help launch the rocket. Artemis III will land the first astronauts on the lunar surface. Photographed on Monday, April 18, 2022.Source: https://images.nasa.gov/details-MAF_20220118_CS3_LH2_303to451_637
New NASASpaceFlight article giving an update on the Orion for Artemis II as well as the other Orion spacecraft in the program.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/06/orion-status-update/
Since the fourth WDR test for the SLS rocket earmarked for the Artemis 1 mission was a largely successful one despite a minor LH2 leak at the QD, is it possible that NASA has plans to make a few technical and structural adjustments to the hardware of the SLS rockets earmarked for the Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 missions, that way the rockets for these two missions could each undergo two or three WDR tests?
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 06/21/2022 12:36 amSince the fourth WDR test for the SLS rocket earmarked for the Artemis 1 mission was a largely successful one despite a minor LH2 leak at the QD, is it possible that NASA has plans to make a few technical and structural adjustments to the hardware of the SLS rockets earmarked for the Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 missions, that way the rockets for these two missions could each undergo two or three WDR tests?I dont think they will do WDR for the other hardware like they did for Artemis 1. Once this hardware has been WDRd and qualified it should apply to all subsequent hardware.
Quote from: cplchanb on 06/21/2022 03:24 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 06/21/2022 12:36 amSince the fourth WDR test for the SLS rocket earmarked for the Artemis 1 mission was a largely successful one despite a minor LH2 leak at the QD, is it possible that NASA has plans to make a few technical and structural adjustments to the hardware of the SLS rockets earmarked for the Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 missions, that way the rockets for these two missions could each undergo two or three WDR tests?I dont think they will do WDR for the other hardware like they did for Artemis 1. Once this hardware has been WDRd and qualified it should apply to all subsequent hardware.Most rockets are WDRed before launch, why wouldn’t they do at least one WDR for the later SLSes?
Most rockets are WDRed before launch, why wouldn’t they do at least one WDR for the later SLSes?
Solid Rocket Motors for Art-IV began pouring in Utah in Jan/22. 5 years puts that at Jan-2027, 7 years Jan 2029. The currently vertically/stacked Art-I and the horizontally stored/unstacked Art-II and Art-III flight sets are going to have some years on them before flying. I wonder if they'll need any waivers for their use?
