New glitch hits Moon mission: Why did Nasa delay Artemis II again
Times of India
by TOI SCIENCE DESKFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
NASA has been forced to roll back its Artemis II rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center following an interruption in helium flow within the Space Launch System’s Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). This issue, detected during routine operations on Tuesday evening, has all but ruled out the planned March launch window. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the postponement on X, stating that engineers are currently troubleshooting and preparing for a rollback while conducting a more detailed assessment.
The helium flow disruption occurred during a standard repressurization procedure, preventing teams from establishing the necessary flow through the vehicle. As a result, the Artemis II rocket has been placed in a safe configuration, with its engines being purged using ground-based systems instead of the onboard helium supply. This issue is reminiscent of problems encountered during the Artemis I mission, where similar failures were observed. Engineers are now investigating potential causes, including possible issues with umbilical interfaces or failed check valves.
The rollback to the VAB is necessary for engineers to access and address the problem effectively. NASA had initially targeted a launch no earlier than March 6 for Artemis II, which was expected to be the first crewed mission of the agency’s Artemis program. The delay is a significant setback for the program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustained human presence there.
Despite the disappointment, NASA has drawn parallels with the Apollo era, noting that technical challenges have historically been part of complex spaceflight operations. For instance, Neil Armstrong’s Gemini 8 mission was aborted prematurely due to a technical fault, yet it ultimately paved the way for his historic Moon landing during the Apollo 11 mission.
The Artemis II delay highlights the inherent risks and challenges in large-scale space exploration projects. While NASA continues to emphasize its long-term vision of building a lunar base and conducting continuous missions to the Moon, the immediate focus remains on resolving the technical issues and ensuring
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/22/2026