NASA Delays Lunar Mission Launch to March
NEW YORK: NASA announced on Tuesday that it has pushed back the launch of its first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in over 50 years to March. This decision comes after the agency encountered a fuel leak during a crucial test.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman shared in a statement on X that, “With the conclusion of the wet dress rehearsal today, we are moving off the February launch window and targeting March for the earliest possible launch of Artemis II.”
During the test, teams faced a liquid hydrogen leak in the core stage interface while filling the tanks, which forced them to pause the operation to warm equipment and adjust the flow of propellant. The countdown was halted when the leak worsened, just around T-5 minutes.
Isaacman emphasized that NASA will only proceed with the launch when they feel fully prepared for this significant mission.
On Monday at about 11:25 am EST, the launch director authorized the team to begin loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the massive rocket at Cape Canaveral launch pad in Florida. This rehearsal was designed to be the final major test before the initial launch, which was originally set for February.
NASA had planned to start the testing over the weekend, but these plans were delayed due to cold weather conditions impacting the launch site.
Teams successfully demonstrated the loading of over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the 322-foot rocket, alongside a simulated launch countdown and practice for safely removing the propellant.
NASA had hoped to send four astronauts on a flyby mission to the Moon as early as February 8. Now, the crew will be released from quarantine and will prepare for the next launch window, about two weeks before the newly targeted date.
