Following the arrival of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis I at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 18, teams have connected numerous ground support equipment elements to the rocket and spacecraft, including electrical, fuel environmental control system ducts, and cryogenic propellant lines. Teams successfully powered up all elements of the integrated system at the pad for the first time on March 21 in preparation for the wet dress rehearsal test planned for April 1-3.
Engineering testing is underway to ensure systems continue to operate as planned with the rocket and spacecraft now configured at the pad. Additionally, technicians will don self-contained atmospheric protective ensemble suits, or SCAPE suits, to practice operations in the event of an emergency at the pad during fueling and launch. After checkouts at the pad are complete next week, the team will start system walkdowns ahead of the test.
The approximately two-day wet dress rehearsal test will demonstrate the team’s ability to load cryogenic, or super-cold, propellants into the rocket, conduct a launch countdown, and practice safely removing propellants at the launch pad. After wet dress rehearsal, engineers will roll the rocket and spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for final checkouts before launch.
Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.
Follow us on Google and Google News.
2 Comments
Very interesting.
Triggered the following thoughts
1. Rocket fuel for main engine is hydrogen gas. Liquid oxygen is oxidizer. The booster uses aluminium as fuel with ammonium perchlorate as an oxidizer,mixed with a binder which is the solid fuel propellant.
2.Nuclear fusion reactor requires high temperature and pressure.
Normally, temperature required for fusion is ~ 50 million degrees and atmosphere pressure of 2 atmospheres plus.
3.The thermodynamics of a fusion requirements of Deuterium and Tritium to helium plus energy requires high energy input at high pressure, to produce extra energy greter than energy input released due to the fusion.
4. At the lowest point in the ocean of earth , we can achieve a pressure of 1071 atmosphere’s. At such high pressure in the depth of the ocean, if the same can be transferred to the fusion reactor, we can achieve fusion of deuterium and tritium at much lower temperatures.
Views expressed are personal and not binding on anyone.
Further to the above.
1. A McKinsey Adviser on strategy advised that it is not smart to boil the ocean. Good message.
2. However, the high pressures of the weight of the ocean on the sea-bed is a opportunity. If we can figure out how to use this in a fusion reactor.
3. Another way of looking at these high pressures at the bottom of the ocean is as Potential energy of the ocean. The waves at the shore are the kinetic energy of the ocean on the surface of the ocean.
4. If we can transfer the potential energy {Pressure} at the bottom of the ocean to the internal environment of fusion reactor placed their, we could enable practical fusion at much lower temperatures than 50 million degrees celsius.
5. Hydrogen gas is plasma in liquid phase and hydrogen metal in solid phase. Energy output being greater than energy input in a fusion reaction is a result of higher isotopes of hydrogen . Deuterium and Tritium.
6. The correct combination of pressure and temperatures required for sustained and controlled chain reaction , to produce helium, is the critical parameter for maximum efficiency and effectiveness of fusion power.
Views expressed are personal and not binding on anyone