More than 500,000 gallons of fuel will flow from the liquid hydrogen tank to the four RS-25 engines that power NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. During flight, and even during testing, a tank’s insides must be clean to ensure contaminants do not find their way into complex propulsion and engine systems.
More than 500,000 gallons of fuel will flow from the liquid hydrogen tank to the four RS-25 engines that power NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. During flight, and even during testing, a tank’s insides must be clean to ensure contaminants do not find their way into complex propulsion and engine systems. Technicians recently lifted the liquid hydrogen tank structural qualification test article into a cleaning cell at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where its insides will be thoroughly cleaned, coated and dried to certify the process for the following flight article.
Image Credit: NASA/MSFC Michoud image: Jude Guidry