NASA has rescheduled the launch window for the Artemis II mission to March due to a liquid hydrogen leak discovered during a recent wet dress rehearsal. Originally set for February 8, the mission aims to send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. Engineers identified the leak while loading the rocket with hydrogen, leading to troubleshooting efforts that caused delays.
In response to the issues encountered, NASA plans to conduct a second wet dress rehearsal before targeting March as the earliest possible launch opportunity. The team encountered challenges with a valve on the vessel and experienced audio dropouts during the rehearsal. Despite setbacks, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of identifying and resolving such issues ahead of flight to ensure the mission’s success and safety.
The four astronauts, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, have been released from quarantine following the schedule change. The Artemis II mission is part of NASA’s Artemis moon program, focusing on testing vital spacecraft functions in preparation for future missions, including a potential astronaut moon landing in the future.