NASA delays the launch of Artemis II lunar mission by at least a month

"A crew of four moon-bound astronauts will remain on the ground for at least a month after NASA delayed the launch of the Artemis II mission. During critical pre-launch testing Monday, mission managers uncovered a number of issues that prevented the completion of the test. NASA is now planning a March launch date for the four astronauts three from the U.S. and one from Canada on a ten-day mission to circle the moon and return to Earth."

"As the team began fueling the rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sensors picked up a hydrogen leak. Super-chilled hydrogen is used as the fuel for the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Hydrogen is an efficient propellant for rockets but its molecules are so tiny and light they can escape even the tightest of seals. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said they had troubleshooted the initial leak, but when they began to pressurize the tank, another leak surfaced."

"The wet dress rehearsal uncovered other issues including a problem with the Orion capsule, which will carry the crew to the moon. While no one was on board Monday, teams practiced preparing the spacecraft for its passengers. A valve that pressurizes the vehicle required additional attention and took more time to close the hatch than anticipated. Teams also uncovered issues with cameras due to cold weather and audio dropouts across communication channels."

NASA postponed the Artemis II crewed launch by at least a month after a wet dress rehearsal uncovered multiple technical problems. Hydrogen leaks appeared during fueling at Kennedy Space Center, with an initial leak followed by another during tank pressurization; super-chilled hydrogen fuel molecules can escape seals. Teams applied lessons from Artemis I but require further investigation. Additional issues included an Orion capsule valve that delayed hatch closure, camera malfunctions in cold weather, and audio dropouts across communications. NASA now targets a March launch for a ten-day mission carrying three U.S. astronauts and one Canadian to circle the moon and return.

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