Cape Canaveral / USA: NASA’s new Moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), experienced a hydrogen fuel leak during a crucial wet dress rehearsal—the final major ground test ahead of the Artemis II mission, which is expected to carry astronauts around the Moon.
The test, conducted at the Kennedy Space Center, was designed to simulate the final stages of an actual launch countdown and is considered a key milestone before the first crewed lunar mission of the Artemis programme.
Hydrogen Accumulation at Rocket Base
After hours of fueling operations, engineers detected excessive hydrogen accumulation near the lower section of the rocket. As a precaution, launch teams paused the fueling process at least twice and attempted corrective measures using techniques developed after similar issues were encountered during the Artemis I test flight in 2022.
During that earlier mission, a hydrogen leak had forced the rocket to remain grounded for several months.
Despite the issue, NASA proceeded to fully fuel the 322-foot-tall (98-metre) rocket, loading more than 700,000 gallons (over 2.6 million litres) of super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The rocket was later transitioned to a replenishment mode, with NASA stating that the leak was ultimately assessed to be within acceptable safety limits.
Mission Readiness at Stake
Had the leak not been contained, the mission would likely have been postponed. NASA officials have indicated that successful completion of the wet dress rehearsal is essential for final launch clearance.
The four astronauts selected for Artemis II—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch (USA) and Jeremy Hansen (Canada)—monitored the test remotely from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, approximately 1,600 kilometres away. The crew has been in quarantine for more than a week as part of pre-launch protocols.
If testing milestones are cleared, NASA may attempt a launch as early as February 8. However, the rocket must be ready by February 11, or the mission could be postponed until March.
What the Artemis II Mission Will Do
The February launch window has been narrowed to just two days due to extreme cold conditions. The planned 10-day crewed mission will see the Orion spacecraft fly past the Moon, travel around its far side, and return directly to Earth.
The mission will not involve a lunar landing or orbit, but will instead focus on testing Orion’s life-support systems, navigation, and crew operations in deep space.
Opening the Path to Future Moon Landings
Artemis II will mark NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, following the Apollo programme. The Artemis initiative is aimed at enabling future Moon landings, long-term lunar presence, and eventual missions to Mars.
Despite the latest technical challenge, NASA officials have reiterated confidence in the programme, emphasizing that identifying and resolving issues during ground testing is a critical step toward safe human spaceflight.
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