NASA has postponed the Artemis II mission launch to March following a liquid hydrogen leak discovered during a recent wet dress rehearsal. Initially scheduled for February 8, the mission aims to send four astronauts on a 10-day lunar orbit journey.
The new launch window is set between March 6 and March 11, with monthly opportunities based on intricate orbital calculations considering Earth’s rotation and the moon’s orbit. During the rehearsal, engineers addressed the hydrogen leak issue, adjusted propellant flow, and resolved a valve malfunction.
Despite challenges, the team successfully completed hydrogen tanking and gathered valuable data for improvements based on lessons from the previous Artemis I launch. NASA plans to rectify the rocket issues on-site, avoiding the time-consuming process of moving it from the launchpad.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of wet dress rehearsals in identifying and resolving issues before actual flights, prioritizing safety for the historic mission. The four astronauts, including Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen and NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, have been released from quarantine due to the launch delay. They will re-enter quarantine closer to the rescheduled launch date.
Artemis II is a crucial step in NASA’s Artemis program, focusing on testing the spacecraft’s functionalities before Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the moon. The program’s long-term goal is to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. NASA will evaluate data from the recent rehearsal before planning the next steps for the mission.