NASA to rollback Artemis moon rocket due to helium flow issue

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — On Saturday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X that due to a helium flow issue, the Artemis II moon rocket will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs and the possible March launch attempt has been canceled.

“After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy,” Isaacman stated, who added that this could impact the March launch window.

The U.S. space agency followed up with a blog post, stating that during the overnight, the issue was detected.

“NASA is taking steps to potentially roll back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after overnight Feb. 21 observing interrupted flow of helium in the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage. Helium flow is required for launch,” NASA stated.

In a follow-up post on X, Isaacman shared that engineers were unable to get the helium flow through the rocket during a routine procedure to repressurize the system.

“Potential faults could include the final filter between the ground and flight vehicle, located on the umbilical, though this seems least likely based on the failure signature. It could also be a failed QD umbilical interface, where similar issues have been observed,” he stated.

He said this issue was found on the Artemis I back in 2022 and stated that access and repairs to any of the issues can only be performed in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

“As mentioned previously, we will begin preparations for rollback, and this will take the March launch window out of consideration,” he posted.

NASA was eyeing as early as March 6, but now the next launch attempt should be in April.

Both NASA and Isaacman stated that teams are reviewing the data and trying to determine the best course of action. Earlier on Saturday, the duo stated that a decision was being made to either make the repairs on the launch pad or roll it back to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

NASA stated that high winds may make that decision for them.

“In order to protect for troubleshooting options at both Pad B and the VAB, teams are making preparations to remove the pad access platforms installed (Friday), which have wind-driven constraints and cannot be removed during high winds, which are forecasted for (Sunday),” NASA stated in the blog post on Saturday morning. 

The day before, NASA held a press conference about its second wet dress rehearsal, where the Space Launch System rocket was fueled with more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic fuel and other tests, like a simulated countdown to launch, took place on Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center.

The first test earlier this month saw a liquid hydrogen leak, but new seals were replaced and worked well for the second test.

NASA officials were eyeing March 6 as the earliest possible test launch, but with this new problem, the next attempt may not be until April.

During the Artemis I mission in 2022, Hurricane Ian forced NASA to roll the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Once the Artemis II is ready, it will send NASA’s Cmdr. Gregory Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut mission specialist Jeremy Hansen to the moon in a flyby mission while they are in the Orion capsule.

Artemis II launch attempt dates