NASA lunar rocket test encountered another leak failure, the launch date is still difficult to determine

Beijing, September 22 (Xinhua)-- NASA hopes to launch its lunar landing rocket, the Space launch system (SLS), later this month. It completed fuel tank filling tests on Wednesday, but encountered two fuel leaks and technical problems.

▲ NASA lunar landing rocket "space launch system"

"We can achieve all the goals set today," said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, launch director of the Artemis 1 mission. However, he did not confirm the launch date of the Artemis 1 mission, which will be the first flight of the space launch system. The earliest possible launch date for NASA is September 27.

Wednesday's test aims to inject cryogenic propellant into the space launch system to simulate the fuel filling process of the rocket on the day of launch. The first hydrogen leak of the day was similar to the one that caused NASA to cancel its second rocket launch attempt on September 3. A spokesman for NASA said the first leak was "very manageable" after remedial measures were taken, but the failure still left "a lot of people confused". Later in the day, there was a second leak during the test, but NASA completed the test.

For NASA engineers, Wednesday's leak could still raise concerns. If Wednesday is a launch attempt, then NASA will not be able to fly. The amount of leakage increased and decreased periodically throughout the test, and it is not clear what caused the fluctuation.