NASA has announced a delay to the Artemis II mission, pushing back the planned lunar flyby from early March. The postponement comes after technicians identified technical issues with the rocket intended to carry the four-person crew.
According to a statement posted on X, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that the issues necessitate a return of the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building for further review. This move effectively eliminates the launch window previously targeted for March. A revised launch date has not yet been announced.
The news follows optimistic reports just 24 hours prior, when the agency confirmed its intention to launch on March 6 with a crew of four astronauts – three from the United States and one from Canada. The mission, estimated to last ten days, would have departed from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and marked the first crewed flight to orbit the moon in over half a century, since the conclusion of the Apollo program. This mission represents a significant step in renewed lunar exploration, and a key component of NASA’s long-term space ambitions.
NASA had recently completed a comprehensive test, lasting nearly 50 hours, during which approximately 730,000 gallons of propellant were loaded into the rocket without a recurrence of the hydrogen leaks that had complicated previous tests. Preparations had also included plans to quarantine the astronauts as part of the final launch preparations.
However, the newly discovered technical difficulties have prompted the agency to proceed with caution. “Safety continues to be our top priority,” Isaacman emphasized earlier this month.
