Artemis II Moonshot Delayed Till April as SLS Rolls Back Over Helium Issue

NASA delayed the Artemis II crewed moon mission until no earlier than April 1, 2026, at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, after a helium flow issue in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's upper stage. 

On February 25, 2026, teams rolled the SLS and Orion spacecraft back 4 miles to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for repairs. 

The problem surfaced post wet dress rehearsal on February 19, when helium failed to flow properly to pressurize propellant tanks and maintain engine conditions. 

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen remain healthy in quarantine. This ensures safety for the first lunar flyby since Apollo.

Artemis II Moonshot Delayed Till April Over Helium Issue

The Artemis II helium anomaly hit the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, vital for sending Orion toward the moon. 

Detected during post-rehearsal checks, it interrupted flow despite fixing prior hydrogen leaks. Rollback started at 9:38 a.m. EST, ending by 8 p.m. in VAB for safer fixes.

NASA SLS Rocket Helium Leak Causes Rollback

Prior hydrogen leaks paused fueling in early February, echoing Artemis I delays in 2022. Helium pressurizes tanks and purges lines; any glitch risks mission failure. NASA prioritizes caution for crewed flight after Starliner issues.

Artemis II Mission Crew Preps Amid Delays

Teams will swap batteries in SLS stages and boosters, retest flight termination, refresh avionics, recharge Orion abort batteries, and check crew module items. March windows are gone, but April slots open early.

NASA eyes Artemis II liftoff by late spring 2026, paving way for lunar orbit and future landings. Safety-first approach builds trust in SLS for the Artemis era. The moon awaits the crew's historic loop.