Following the successful liftoff of the world’s most powerful rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, teams carefully assessed the mobile launcher and infrastructure at Launch Pad 39B. Engineers have determined the overall mobile launcher and pad systems all performed as designed during launch and are structurally sound.
The ground systems, umbilical retracts on the mobile launcher, software, and ignition over pressure and sound suppression system from the water deluge system, which sprays water to dampen the acoustic shock and protect the deck of the mobile launcher from the flames of the engines, all supported the launch as expected throughout countdown and as the Space Launch System rocket imparted 8.8 million pounds of thrust onto the structure while leaving Earth.
“The exploration ground systems exceeded our expectation for its overall performance,” Artemis mission manager, Mike Sarafin said during a Nov. 21 news briefing following Orion’s closest lunar flyby. “We did have a little bit of damage on the mobile launcher, but it will be ready to support Artemis II and we had accounted for that previously in our pre-plan and our budget for the time between Artemis I and II.”
The assessment, which began the day of launch, Wednesday, Nov. 16, and concluded Friday, Nov. 18, enabled teams to inspect areas on the mobile launcher and identify specific damage and debris around the pad. Engineers identified minor damage to umbilicals and the crew access arm on the mobile launcher. Damage to the pneumatic lines associated with gaseous nitrogen and gaseous helium caused the oxygen sensors on the pad to show there were low oxygen readings due to leaks, which teams have since isolated. The most significant issue is the damage to the elevators, which required the team to use the stairs for inspections on the 355-foot-tall tower structure, which has 662 steps, and extended the time required for the inspection. The elevators will remain out of service for several months to complete repairs.
Debris assessments around the pad found the solid rocket booster’s throat plug material which is purposefully expelled at liftoff and commonly found at the pad post launch. Other debris found at the pad included pieces of the caulk-like material from Orion, though teams are unclear if that was detached during launch or during Hurricane Nicole. Overall, the mobile launcher and pad post launch inspections have yielded findings that are consistent with expectations and similar to those of space shuttle launches.
Teams are in the process of coordinating and scheduling repairs to be completed before the mobile launcher returns to the Vehicle Assembly Building in several weeks and later is taken to a parking location at Kennedy where it will undergo emergency egress modifications and testing to prepare for the Artemis II crewed mission.