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Test of the Space Launch System: After about a minute, the engines were off again
Photo: ROBERT MARKOWITZ / AFP
It was the last big appearance of the outgoing NASA boss - and it didn't go quite as planned.
Jim Bridenstine is leaving office with the end of Donald Trump's presidency.
On Saturday he wanted to watch the engine test for the Space Launch System, SLS for short, at the Stennis Space Center of the US space agency in the state of Mississippi.
This is the name of the rocket that will bring US astronauts to the moon in the coming years.
Actually, Trump - and thus Bridenstine - had the year 2024 in mind for the first landing.
This date is likely to be postponed.
But that the "Artemis" program will continue under President Joe Biden, given the support in Congress is likely.
The astronauts have already been selected.
And before the SLS flies with people on board, there should be an unmanned flight around the moon - possibly this year.
The mission is to be called "Artemis-1" and the engine test was a crucial step on this path.
However, the four powerful RS-25 units of the rocket ignited on the test stand for only about a minute.
About eight were planned.
That's how long it takes to get the SLS from its launch site in Florida into space.
In the meantime, NASA has determined the reason for the premature shutdown.
A hydraulic system should therefore be responsible.
This would be responsible for moving the engines back and forth so that the rocket can be controlled.
Nasa does not want to speak of a failure of the test.
If the rocket had flown, the engines would have fired without interruption, they say.
The parameters for the test were deliberately chosen conservatively.
This is how they wanted to protect the valuable aircraft.
Because the rocket tested on Saturday should actually be used for the flight around the moon.
So far there are no indications of damage to the device.
Tanks can be filled nine times
However, NASA has to think twice about repeating the engine test.
The tanks for fuel and liquid oxygen can only be filled a total of nine times according to the manufacturer's specifications.
This has already happened three times for test purposes, at least one more time immediately before the start.
In addition to the liquid fuel-powered core stage, which has now been tested, the SLS also has two smaller solid fuel boosters that are supposed to provide additional thrust.
When the maiden flight of the SLS will take place has not yet been determined with absolute certainty.
The premature termination of the test on Saturday should not cause a postponement, according to NASA.
It is still possible to launch the rocket in 2021, Bridenstine said after the test.
The only difference is that someone else will be at the helm of NASA.
Incidentally, crucial parts for the spaceship of the »Artemis« flights come from Europe.
The “European Service Module” is being built at Airbus DS in Bremen, which is responsible for the air and power supply as well as the drive for the astronaut capsule.
The first model has already been delivered and flies around the moon with the »Artemis-1«, two further modules - for a manned orbit around the moon and for the moon landing - are currently being built.
It has not yet been determined whether a European - or even a German - astronaut will be able to go around the moon or even land.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has started a competition for children.
For the »The next step« campaign, young astro fans can submit photos and pictures of their footprints and shoe prints.
These are saved on a USB stick that is supposed to fly with the »Artemis-1« capsule.
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