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Fuel Leaks Stall NASA's Next Moon Shot
3 Feb
Summary
- New moon rocket launch is now targeted for March.
- Fuel leaks occurred during a critical test, delaying the flight.
- Astronauts assigned to the mission will re-enter quarantine.
NASA announced on Tuesday a revised target launch date of March for its new moon rocket, following frustrating fuel leaks that occurred during a critical test on Monday. The space agency stated that the delay will permit teams to thoroughly review data from the test and conduct a second "wet dress rehearsal" before the flight test.
The leaks, reminiscent of issues during the rocket's initial debut, emerged during a daylong fueling operation at the Kennedy Space Center. Excessive hydrogen buildup near the rocket's base halted the process multiple times. These challenges, along with audio dropout problems for ground crew communications and delays in close-out operations, have pushed the mission back.
The four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission, which aims to send them around the moon and back, were monitoring the rehearsal from Houston. They will now be moved out of their current quarantine and will re-enter it approximately two weeks before the new launch window. This mission, a precursor to future lunar landings, will test the Orion capsule's vital systems.
