NASA will not commit to a specific Artemis II launch date until the wet dress rehearsal is successfully completed and engineers finish reviewing the resulting data.
Engineers began preparing for the rollback after identifying a helium flow problem during Artemis II launch processing.
Program managers concluded that March 6 is the earliest feasible Artemis II launch opportunity that preserves time for a second wet dress rehearsal, post-test data analysis, and transition of the launch pad, SLS rocket, and Orion spacecraft from test configuration to full launch readiness.
The processing flow adjustment is part of NASA’s test flight approach for Artemis II, which will send astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth.
Engineers discovered a helium flow issue on the Artemis II rocket last week.
While the Artemis II rocket and spacecraft are in the Vehicle Assembly Building, teams will inspect the tubing that fills the vehicle's upper stage with helium and will perform any necessary replacements or repairs.
NASA will standardize the Space Launch System around the existing Block 1 architecture used for Artemis I and Artemis II.
The Artemis II rocket was rolled back to Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building for assessment, which NASA determined gave the agency the best possible chance to launch in early April.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the U.S. Artemis lunar program.
The Artemis II rocket was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on February 25, 2026.
The inspection of the helium lines for Artemis II is part of quality-control procedures conducted during integration of the launcher at the Kennedy Space Center complex.
Work has begun to fix the Artemis II rocket.
NASA is targeting April 1, 2026 for the launch of Artemis II, which will carry a crew of four around the Moon and back.
Engineers are troubleshooting a helium flow issue in the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage discovered during final pad processing for Artemis II.
The Artemis II rocket was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on February 25, 2026.
NASA is preparing for Artemis II to fly on the Space Launch System rocket.
Artemis II has been delayed by issues with the Space Launch System that are under repair and now have a new target for an April launch.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight beyond Earth orbit since 1972.
The Artemis II rocket and capsule are currently inside the Vehicle Assembly Building for preparation and verification activities.
NASA is targeting April 1, 2026 for the launch of Artemis II, which will carry a crew of four around the Moon and back.