Artemis II headed back to the bay; helium issues force another delay
The Register
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
NASA’s Artemis II mission has been delayed once again due to technical issues, with helium flow disruptions forcing a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and scrubbing the March launch window. The problem occurred during final preparations for the rocket's debut flight around the Moon, which was already pushed back from February following a hydrogen leak during a wet dress rehearsal in February. Helium is critical for maintaining environmental conditions in the interim cryogenic propulsion stage and pressurizing propellant tanks, but flow issues arose only after reconfiguring systems post-testing.
This latest setback marks the second major delay for Artemis II, which was initially targeted for launch in December 2024 before being pushed to February 2025, then March 2026. The helium issue has now forced NASA to aim for April as the earliest possible window, though even that date remains uncertain pending repairs and analysis. Agency officials are investigating potential causes, including ground-to-rocket interface problems, a faulty valve in the Space Launch System (SLS) upper stage, or contamination from a filter. These challenges come despite successful systems performance during earlier tests, leaving engineers scrambling to diagnose and resolve the issue before the next launch attempt.
The delay underscores the complex technical challenges inherent in human spaceflight, particularly for high-stakes missions like Artemis II—a crewed lunar flyby that represents NASA’s first return to deep-space exploration since 1972. While the mission itself will not land astronauts on the Moon, it is a critical stepping stone toward future expeditions aimed at establishing a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. The pressure on NASA to overcome these hurdles is immense, as Artemis II’s success will set the stage for Artemis III, which plans to land humans on the Moon by 2027.
This latest delay highlights the risks and uncertainties involved in developing and launching advanced space systems like the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. The helium issue adds to a growing list of challenges
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Originally published on The Register on 2/23/2026