Collaboration between NASA and Lockheed Martin aimed at resolving Artemis II Orion issues for spacecraft delivery by summer’s end

NASA and Lockheed Martin are collaborating to address a series of issues that have emerged during the ground testing of the Orion spacecraft. These issues have led to a delay in the launch readiness target date for the Artemis II circumlunar mission, which is now set for September 2025. The problems include a circuit flaw in the digital motor controllers and the shock resistance of the batteries during an extreme abort case.

The Lockheed Martin assembly, test, and launch operations (ATLO) team at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is currently working on reinstalling some electronics and implementing fixes for the circuit flaw. Meanwhile, NASA and the contractor teams are also working on corrective actions for the battery issue. The resolution of these problems especially important for completing the assembly and testing of the spacecraft before it’s handed over to Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) for launch processing.

Since completing the Artemis I mission to the Moon in December 2022, NASA has been aiming for the readiness to launch Artemis II at the end of 2024. However, the discovery of new issues and the ongoing investigation into the liberation of material from Orion’s base heat shield during re-entry have contributed to the delay. Despite the challenges, NASA remains hopeful that the issues will be resolved in time to meet the revised launch date in September 2025.

The circuit flaw was discovered during acceptance testing of an air ventilation and temperature controller unit. The design flaw allowed stray voltage to persist in the circuit, leading to a complete failure during testing. The fix for this issue is relatively simple, involving the addition of capacitors and resistors to eliminate the voltage. The new components have undergone re-acceptance testing, including vibration and thermal sweeps, and are now being installed in the spacecraft.

The fix for the circuit flaw required significant disassembly and wiring work inside the crew module. However, the team found a workaround that involved bypassing the current controller and mounting the replacement in a different location. This approach minimized the need for extensive disassembly and retesting of connections.

In addition to the circuit issue, the Orion program also faced challenges with the batteries’ shock resistance. Qualification testing revealed a loss of connectivity in some cases due to the intense shock experienced during an extreme abort case. The batteries on Orion for Artemis II are a new design with enhanced safety features for crewed missions. The program is evaluating different options to resolve the battery issue, including repairing the existing batteries or accelerating the production of new ones.

The next major milestone for the Artemis II Orion production is a vacuum test of the spacecraft in the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at KSC. This test will determine whether the current batteries can withstand the environmental conditions experienced during space missions. If necessary, the batteries will be replaced after the test. The program is currently targeting completion of Orion and handover to EGS in September.

Despite the challenges, NASA and Lockheed Martin remain committed to ensuring the safety and success of the Artemis II mission. The teams are working diligently to address the issues and meet the revised launch readiness target date. The Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed mission for the Exploration Ground Systems, Orion, and Space Launch System programs, represents a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the Moon and pave the way for future space exploration endeavors.