NASA Tests Mobile Launcher’s Slidewire Baskets

by Alex Longo June 4, 2024, 7:42 am

If you are an astronaut, the Emergency Egress System (EES) is the most fun ride which you hope you never need to take.  These systems have taken many forms over the 63-year saga of American human spaceflight, from cherry pickers to ejection seats to inflatable slides.  However, they all serve a common purpose: to rapidly transport astronauts to a safe distance from a fueled rocket in the event of an emergency on the launch pad.  To satisfy this requirement, the Artemis Program opted to install slidewire baskets on its Mobile Launcher.  NASA recently tested the system to verify that it is safe for human use.  The video of the demonstration showcases how the baskets will be an invaluable safety feature for the four Artemis 2 astronauts during their launch next September.

The testing of the slidewire system is the culmination of a nearly year-long test campaign at the Kennedy Space Center.  It is intended to demonstrate that the infrastructure at historic Launch Complex 39B is prepared to support a crewed launch of the Space Launch System (SLS), Artemis 2’s titanic launch vehicle.  Last August, the 40-story-tall Mobile Launcher (ML) was rolled to Pad 39B to begin a series of Integrated System Verification and Validation (ISVV) tests.  The ML’s stay on the pad was supposed to be relatively brief.  The tower was initially slated to roll back to the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building in December of last year.  

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