Potential Hazards in NASA's Artemis 2 Moon Capsule may Endanger Crew Members, According to Recent Report
A fresh take on NASA's lingering Orion capsule issues:
With the Artemis 2 mission approaching, NASA is still grappling with a handful of issues that could potentially threaten the safety of the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, as per a new report from the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The report, published on Wednesday, scrutinized NASA's readiness to launch a crew in the Orion spacecraft, initially set for September 2025. The assessment focused on anomalies in the spacecraft's heat shield and other hardware components, detected after the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in late 2022.
The concern about Orion's heat shield is mounting. As we've previously discussed, this component endured severe temperatures during the reentry from the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, traveling at speeds of 24,600 miles per hour (39,590 kilometers per hour). What's hard to swallow is the OIG's revelation that, despite predictions, protective material from the heat shield unexpectedly chipped away at over 100 locations on the spacecraft during reentry.
The report warns, "Portions of the char layer wore away differently than NASA engineers predicted, cracking and breaking off the spacecraft in fragments that created a trail of debris rather than melting away as designed." This leaves the heat shield's ability to protect the capsule's systems and crew from the intense heat of reentry for future missions in question.
On the brighter side, NASA is working to tackle this issue, exploring options such as replacing heat shield components or altering Orion's reentry trajectory. The space agency anticipates resolving the issue by the late spring of this year.
The report also touched upon issues with the crew capsule's separation bolts, which experienced unexpected melting and erosion, causing a heating gap. NASA addressed this problem by making design adjustments to the separation bolts and adding additional thermal protective barrier material.
Post-Artemis 1, the team recorded 24 instances of power distribution anomalies in Orion's Electrical Power System. Investigations revealed that these issues were instigated by radiation, and software changes have been developed for the Artemis 2 mission. However, without a permanent hardware fix, there's an increased risk of further anomalies resulting in a loss of redundancy, inadequate power, and potential loss of vehicle propulsion and pressurization.
In response to the OIG's audit, NASA expressed its concerns about the report's tone suggesting that the OIG identified these risks when in fact, they had been already being addressed by NASA.
Want to keep up with the latest on humanity's ambitious lunar journey? Check out our comprehensive coverage on NASA's Artemis Moon program, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, the Artemis 1 mission, the Artemis 2 crew, and the upcoming lunar Gateway space station. For even more space-related content, follow us on [X] and don't forget to bookmark Gizmodo's Spaceflight page.
Insights:- Risk Optimization: The report emphasizes the importance of prioritizing risk management and implementing strategies to mitigate potential dangers during the lunar mission[2]. This could mean finalizing reentry trajectory and heat shield modifications before going forward[1][2].- Hardware and Software Upgrades: As pointed out by the report, ensuring reliable hardware and robust software solutions is essential in preventing further anomalies in the Electrical Power System[2].- Test and Analysis: To make any necessary improvements, the OIG recommends that NASA executes rigorous testing and analysis processes on the various components of the Orion capsule[2].
[1] https://oig.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/audit-reports/2023-005.pdf[2] https://oig.nasa.gov/newsroom/news-releases/NASA-Office-of-Inspector-General-NASAs-Artemis-Program-Prepares-for-Return-to-Lunar-Surface-With-Significant-Concerns-Remaining[3] https://www.nasa.gov/topics/xploration/home/artemis-overview.html[4] https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/index.html[5] https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/human/acat_november_2021.html
- NASA is focusing on technology solutions to address the anomalies in the Orion spacecraft's heat shield and other hardware components for the Artemis 2 mission, which includes exploring options like replacing heat shield components or altering Orion's reentry trajectory.
- The assessment by the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) also revealed issues with the crew capsule's separation bolts, which experienced unexpected melting and erosion, and NASA is addressing this problem by making design adjustments to the separation bolts and adding additional thermal protective barrier material.
- The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, integral parts of NASA's Artemis Moon program, have encountered 24 instances of power distribution anomalies in Orion's Electrical Power System post-Artemis 1, caused by radiation. To prevent further anomalies and protect the spacecraft's systems and crew from potential threats, NASA is developing software changes and working towards a hardware fix.
- While NASA is working diligently to resolve the issues plaguing the Orion spacecraft, the OIG's report highlights the importance of science, including rigorous testing and analysis processes on the various components of the Orion capsule, to ensure the success of the Artemis Moon program and future missions in space.
