CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. \u2014 NASA’s new moon rocket suffered another setback Saturday, putting next month’s planned launch with astronauts in jeopardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The space agency revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March 6 for 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 required for launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NASA said it is reviewing the data and preparing, if necessary, to return the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket to the hangar for repairs at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s possible the work could be done at the launch pad; the space agency said engineers are preparing for both options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window,” NASA said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hydrogen fuel leaks had already delayed the Artemis II lunar fly-around by a month. A second fueling test on Thursday revealed hardly any leaks, giving managers the confidence to aim for a March liftoff. The four astronauts went into their two-week quarantine Friday night, mandatory for avoiding germs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interrupted helium flow is confined to the SLS rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage. This upper stage is essential for placing the Orion crew capsule into the proper high-altitude orbit around Earth for checkout, following liftoff. After that, it’s supposed to separate from Orion and serve as a target for the astronauts inside the capsule, allowing them to practice docking techniques for future moon missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During NASA’s Apollo program, 24 astronauts flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972. The new Artemis program has completed only one flight so far, a lunar-orbiting mission without a crew in 2022. That first test flight was also plagued by hydrogen fuel leaks before blasting off. The first moon landing with a crew under Artemis is still at least a few years away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n