NASA delays Artemis II to March

NASA delays Artemis II to March

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 — NASA has pushed the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby to March after a launch rehearsal uncovered problems in the Space Launch System’s fueling process, delaying the mission’s first astronaut flight around the Moon, Reuters reported.

The agency said the two-day wet dress rehearsal successfully loaded cryogenic propellant and completed key steps, but teams will review the data and likely run a second rehearsal before setting a firm launch date; March is now the earliest possible window, NASA said.

Fuel test findings

During the rehearsal, engineers detected liquid hydrogen leaks and ultimately halted the countdown with just over five minutes remaining, prompting NASA to stand down from February launch dates, NBC News reported.

Spaceflight Now said the leak reappeared after teams paused fuel flow to warm fittings and reseat seals, and the automated ground sequencer stopped the test when the leak rate spiked, ending the exercise early.

The Artemis II mission will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a free‑return loop around the Moon without landing, Discover Magazine noted.

What Artemis II will do

Reuters said Artemis II is the first human lunar mission since Apollo and a precursor to Artemis III, NASA’s 2028 plan to land astronauts using Orion atop SLS and a SpaceX Starship lunar lander.

NASA said it expects to complete repairs and review the rehearsal data before returning to testing, with crew quarantine to resume about two weeks ahead of the next targeted launch opportunity, according to the agency’s update.

Next steps and launch windows

Mission managers told NBC News that March 6–9 and March 11 are the first available launch dates, with additional April options if needed as teams work through fueling and communications issues.

Spaceflight Now quoted NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman saying the rehearsal was designed to surface problems after a three‑year gap between SLS launches, underscoring a cautious approach before crews fly.

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