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NASA Prepares for Artemis Missions with Key System Activation

At NASA’s Stennis Space Center, teams have recently activated the interstage gas systems essential for testing a new stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) intended for upcoming Artemis missions targeting the Moon and beyond.

This activation signifies a significant step forward in the preparations for the Green Run testing of the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) at the Thad Cochran Test Stand’s B-2 position. The Green Run initiative involves the thorough activation and testing of all systems to ensure the stage’s readiness for flight. The testing will conclude with a critical hot fire exercise involving the stage’s four RL10 engines, simulating the conditions of an actual mission.

The interstage simulator serves a pivotal role akin to that of the SLS interstage section, which safeguards the upper stage during Artemis launches. During the Green Run testing at NASA Stennis, this simulator will replicate the protective functions expected during actual missions.

The gas system associated with the interstage simulator will supply helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen to the four RL10 engines throughout the wet dress and hot fire testing phases.

Throughout the activation procedure, crews at NASA Stennis replicated engine operations and controlled gas flow to emulate various scenarios, gathering data on key parameters such as pressure and temperature. In total, the team executed 80 distinct flow cases, assessing factors like flow rates, pressure drops within the system, and times for filling and venting. These calculated measurements were then matched against established models and analytics to ensure that the gas system satisfies all performance criteria.

Looking ahead, the teams will turn their attention to activating the umbilical gases and liquid oxygen systems. Subsequent efforts will focus on activating the water systems, involving the flow management of components such as the flame deflector, aspirator, diffuser cooling circuits, purge rings, and water-cooled fairings.

Once these tasks are completed, the deployment of the FireX system will take place to ensure comprehensive fire protection, with this stage of testing expected to conclude by summer.

Before the Exploration Upper Stage, which was constructed by Boeing at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, arrives at NASA Stennis for testing, teams will conduct a final 24-hour readiness assessment across all test complex facilities to confirm their preparedness for the forthcoming test series.

Source
www.nasa.gov