NASA ROLLS ARTEMIS II ROCKET BACK TO VAB AFTER HELIUM ISSUE, LAUNCH SLIPS TO APRIL

NASA has moved its Artemis II rocket off the launch pad and back into the Vehicle Assembly Building after engineers identified a helium pressurization issue during testing, pushing the mission's targeted liftoff to no earlier than April.

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The rollback affects the highly anticipated crewed mission that will send four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, marking the first human flight of the Artemis program and the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo. Originally targeting an early February launch window, the mission encountered technical complications during fueling tests, prompting NASA to take a more cautious approach.

HELIUM PRESSURIZATION PROBLEM PROMPTS DELAY

The issue centers on the upper stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, where engineers detected irregularities in the helium pressurization system. Helium is used to maintain proper pressure inside propellant tanks, a critical component for stable engine performance during flight.