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Artemis II Launch Delayed Again Amidst Rocket Issues
23 Feb
Summary
- Artemis II mission launch delayed due to helium flow interruption.
- New launch target is April 1 at the earliest, not March.
- Fans suggest SpaceX assistance or replacement for SLS rocket.
The Artemis II moon mission has experienced a second delay, pushing its launch beyond the anticipated March window. NASA officials cited an interruption in helium flow within the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage as the cause. This issue was discovered during routine maintenance after the system performed correctly during recent wet dress rehearsals.
The setback means the earliest the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen around the moon, can launch is April 1. The SLS rocket must now be returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs, potentially necessitating further wet dress rehearsals.
Public reaction has included expressions of frustration and calls for SpaceX's involvement. Some commentators have suggested that SpaceX's Starship rocket could be a more efficient replacement for the SLS. NASA has a separate contract with SpaceX for a lunar lander for the Artemis III mission, a contract that has also faced delays.
The total estimated cost for the Artemis program is $44 billion, with the SLS rocket accounting for $23.8 billion and the Orion spacecraft $20.4 billion. The mission's objective is to perform a lunar flyby and test systems for future lunar landings, with a planned duration of 10 days.
