Space.com by Irene Klotz, May 11, 2017
A Space Launch System (SLS) fuel tank needed for structural tests in advance of the debut flight of NASA's heavy-lift booster was damaged on May 3, the space agency said today (May 11).
The accident at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is under investigation, said agency spokeswoman Kim Henry.
NASA has not yet determined if the damage will affect the schedule of the maiden SLS flight, whose November 2018 launch date was already in doubt, the agency said. [Photos: NASA's Space Launch System for Deep-Space Flights]
"Initial assessments indicate damage to the rear (aft) dome of a liquid-oxygen tank, which is part of the rocket's 212-foot [65 meters] core stage," NASA said in a statement. "Assessments are underway to determine the extent of the damage."
Henry declined to describe the physical damage or provide details of the accident, which occurred as the 27.6-foot-diameter (8.4 m) dome was being prepared to be welded to the rest of the tank.
"It's the last piece you need when you're welding the liquid oxygen tank," Henry said.
The tank was due to be shipped to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for testing to ensure it can withstand the stresses of launch. NASA has already completed a liquid-hydrogen tank for qualification testing, Henry said.
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