Artemis 2 Rocket Faces Setback: Helium Flow Issue Forces Rollback to VAB

Daily Technology

·

24/02/2026

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NASA now delays the Artemis 2 launch - one day after the rocket besides Orion capsule passed a full scale fuel test, a helium line to the upper stage lost pressure. The stack must roll from the pad back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. The first chance to launch shifts from March to April at the earliest.

Key points

A helium supply fault on the upper stage forces the SLS or Orion to return to the VAB.
The mission will miss the March window - April is the new earliest launch period.
The rollback follows an almost flawless fuel test, showing how complex crewed deep space preparation remains.

The helium issue

Engineers found that helium no longer reached the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. This stage needs the gas to keep the engine pathways clear and to pressurize the propellant tanks that push Orion toward the Moon. The breach could sit at a ground umbilical, inside a stage valve or within an in line filter. Teams continue to trace the exact leak path.

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Rollback and new schedule

The combined SLS next to Orion vehicle will start the slow ride to the VAB on Tuesday if weather allows. Once inside, technicians will open access platforms and replace or repair the faulty hardware. The move erases the March launch window. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted the let down but stated that crew safety demands a fully sound rocket before the four astronauts board.

Mission importance

Artemis 2 will be the first flight to carry people on both the SLS booster and the Orion spacecraft. The crew will fly past the Moon and return, travelling farther from Earth than any humans since Apollo. A successful trip proves that the vehicle set can support future landings under the wider Artemis program.

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Earlier setbacks

The uncrewed Artemis 1 mission also rolled back multiple times because of stuck valves, hydrogen leaks and storms. During the Artemis 2 dress rehearsal, a small helium leak appeared at a familiar fitting - engineers swapped seals and closed that leak. The new fault lies elsewhere in the same helium system. Because Artemis 2 will carry four astronauts, every component must work without doubt - the program accepts the delay rather than risk flight.

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