Nasa moon rocket hit by new problem, pushing launch with astronauts into April
The Artemis II mission, set to be humanity’s first lunar flight in decades, is facing a helium flow issue just a day after a successful test
Nasa’s new moon rocket suffered another setback on Saturday, almost certain to bump astronauts’ first lunar trip in decades into spring.
The space agency revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March 6 for the Artemis II mission, humanity’s first flight to the moon in more than half a century.
Overnight, the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage was interrupted, officials said. Solid helium flow is essential for purging the engines and pressurising the fuel tanks.
This helium issue has nothing to do with the hydrogen fuel leaks that marred a countdown dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket earlier this month and forced a repeat test.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said a bad filter, valve or connection plate could be to blame for the stalled helium flow. Regardless of the cause, he noted, the only way to access the area and fix the problem is in the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Centre.
“We will begin preparations for rollback, and this will take the March launch window out of consideration,” Isaacman said on social media. Nasa’s next opportunities would be at the beginning or end of April.
06:25
Will Musk’s moon pivot put SpaceX on a collision course with China’s lunar ambitions?