Nasa on Saturday announced that the rocket tasked with carrying four astronauts on a historic round trip to the Moon will be removed from the launch pad due to a new leak, postponing the mission that was planned to launch on March 6.
They found an interruption in the flow of helium within the interim cryogenic propulsion stage of the Space Launch System rocket during overnight operations on February 21.
This specific stage is vital for pushing the Orion spacecraft toward the Moon, and helium is a non-negotiable requirement for a safe launch.
As of Friday, February 20, Nasa officials remained publicly confident that the historic lunar flyby would proceed on schedule.
In fact, newly confirmed Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman had cited major progress following a successful fuelling test just a day earlier. However, this sudden technical glitch has forced a dramatic shift in strategy.
Teams are now preparing to roll the massive rocket and the Orion capsule back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This move is necessary to troubleshoot the helium issue in a controlled environment.
The timing is particularly tight because pad access platforms must be removed before forecast high winds arrive tomorrow, as these structures have strict wind-driven safety constraints.
The setback has caught the attention of the global space community. Isaacman shared the news on social media, stating that overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage.
He noted that teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis-II to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), adding that this will almost assuredly impact the March launch window.
This development is a heavy blow for those hoping to see humans return to the lunar vicinity next month. The March 6 launch window is now almost assuredly off the table.
While Nasa has not yet set a new date, the priority remains the safety of the four astronauts who will eventually board this craft. Engineers must now decide if the fix can be done quickly or if the SLS requires a more extensive overhaul inside the hangar.
WILL THE HELIUM LEAK DELAY THE MOON MISSION?
The interruption in helium flow is a critical failure that prevents the rocket from pressurising its fuel tanks correctly.
Without this, the SLS couldn’t leave the ground, making a significant delay for Artemis-II inevitable.
WHY IS NASA ROLLING THE ROCKET BACK TO THE HANGAR?
Moving the Artemis-II rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building allows engineers to access internal components that are difficult to reach at the launch pad.
It also protects the 322-foot-tall hardware from upcoming high winds forecasted for Florida.
HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE ARTEMIS-II LAUNCH TIMELINE?
With the March window now unlikely, Nasa must look for the next available alignment of the Earth and Moon.
This usually occurs every few weeks, but the length of the repairs needed for Artemis-II will dictate the new official schedule.
