NASA’s latest moon rocket faced another setback over the weekend, likely pushing back astronauts’ upcoming lunar voyage to the spring season. The space agency encountered a new issue with the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage, crucial for engine purging and fuel tank pressurization. This problem emerged right after NASA had set March 6 as the target date for the Artemis II mission, marking humanity’s return to the moon after more than 50 years.
According to NASA officials, the interruption in the helium flow is unrelated to the hydrogen fuel leaks that occurred during a recent countdown rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket. Jared Isaacman, the head of NASA, speculated that a faulty filter, valve, or connection plate might be responsible for the halted helium flow. The only way to address this issue is by accessing the affected area in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Due to this setback, preparations are underway for the rocket to be rolled back, eliminating the possibility of a March launch. Isaacman mentioned that NASA’s next potential launch windows would be at the beginning or end of April. Despite the disappointment caused by the delay, NASA expressed dedication to resolving the technical challenges and ensuring the success of the Artemis II mission.
Earlier in the day, NASA announced plans to return the 98-meter rocket to its hangar for necessary repairs, with the option of conducting the work at the launch pad. The Artemis II lunar fly-around had already been delayed by a month due to hydrogen fuel leaks, but a successful fuelling test provided optimism for a March liftoff. The astronauts involved in the mission have entered a two-week quarantine as a precaution.
The helium flow issue specifically affects the SLS rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage, which is vital for maneuvering the Orion crew capsule into the correct high-altitude orbit after launch. Following this stage, the rocket is designed to detach from Orion and serve as a practice target for the astronauts to hone their docking skills for future lunar missions.
While NASA’s Apollo program successfully sent 24 astronauts to the moon between 1968 and 1972, the Artemis program has only completed one crewless lunar-orbiting mission in 2022. The program’s first crewed moon landing under Artemis is still a few years away, with the recent setback adding to the challenges faced in returning humans to the lunar surface.
