Following a test readiness review on Monday, NASA is now targeting Saturday, Jan. 16, for the final test in the Green Run testing series for the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will launch the agencys Artemis I mission. NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST Tuesday, Jan.12, to discuss the test, known as the hot fire, which will take place at NASAs Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
During thetest, engineers will power up all the core stage systems, load more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic, or supercold, propellant into the tanks and fire all four engines at the same time.
TheGreen Runtest series is a comprehensive assessment of the rockets core stage prior to SLS launching Artemis missions to the Moon. The core stage includes the liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank, four RS-25 engines, and the computers, electronics, and avionics that serve as the brains of the rocket. NASA has completed seven of theeight core stage Green Run tests,including loading and draining propellant for the first time during the most recent test, the wet dress rehearsal, on Dec. 20.During the upcoming hot fire test, all four engines will fire to simulate the stages operation during launch.
Audio of the teleconference will stream live online at:
Participating in the briefing are:
- John Honeycutt, SLS program manager, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center
- Julie Bassler, SLS stages manager, Marshall
- Ryan McKibben, Green Run test conductor, Stennis
- John Shannon, vice president and SLS program manager, Boeing
- Jeff Zotti, RS-25 program director at Aerojet Rocketdyne
