NASA’s latest lunar rocket faced another setback recently, likely delaying astronauts’ upcoming moon mission until spring. The space agency encountered a helium flow issue in the rocket’s upper stage, a critical element for engine purging and fuel tank pressurization. This new problem emerged shortly after NASA had set March 6 as the target date for the Artemis II mission, marking the first human flight to the moon in over 50 years.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that a faulty filter, valve, or connection might be responsible for the disrupted helium flow. Rectifying this issue requires accessing the affected area within the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Consequently, preparations for the rocket’s rollback have begun, ruling out the possibility of a March launch. NASA is now eyeing potential launch windows in early or late April.
Despite this setback, NASA had conducted a second fueling test to address hydrogen fuel leaks that had previously delayed the Artemis II mission by a month. Following the successful test, managers were confident in aiming for a March liftoff. The crew of four astronauts had entered a two-week quarantine as a precaution against any infections.
The helium flow problem is isolated to the SLS rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage, crucial for positioning the Orion crew capsule in the correct orbit for testing post-launch. Once separated from Orion, this stage will serve as a docking target for astronauts to practice techniques for future moon missions.
While NASA’s Apollo program saw 24 astronauts journey to the moon between 1968 and 1972, the Artemis program has only completed one crewless lunar-orbit mission in 2022. The first crewed moon landing under Artemis is still a few years away, with the recent setbacks pushing back the timeline.