Artemis-II wet test terminated due to hydrogen leak in Moon rocket
This scrub likely pushes back the earliest Artemis II launch window, previously eyed for early February 2026, including dates like February 8.
Nasa's critical wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar orbit flight since Apollo, was abruptly halted due to a liquid hydrogen leak.
The countdown terminated at T-5:15 minutes when high concentrations of the cryogenic fuel were detected at the tail service mast umbilical interface on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
The incident occurred during the final stages of the two-day test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, simulating full propellant loading without astronauts aboard.
Earlier in the countdown, the same umbilical had shown elevated hydrogen levels, prompting close monitoring by launch control. "The team is working to ensure the SLS rocket is in a safe configuration and begin draining its tanks," Nasa stated in an official update.
This scrub pushes back the earliest Artemis II launch window, previously eyed for early February 2026, including dates like February 8. The rehearsal, which began its 48-hour countdown on January 31, involved loading over 7,33,000 gallons of propellant into the SLS core stage, chilling systems, and practicing countdown holds and scrubs.
Ground teams powered up the rocket's core, filled sound suppression water tanks, and initiated hydrogen and oxygen topping procedures before the anomaly surfaced.
Hydrogen leaks have plagued SLS preparations before, notably delaying Artemis I in 2022. Gaseous nitrogen purges are standard to mitigate ignition risks in engine compartments, but the umbilical flaw highlights ongoing cryogenic handling challenges for the 322-foot-tall Moon rocket.
Post-scrub, engineers will analyse data, repair the interface, and likely reschedule the rehearsal, potentially into late February or March, affecting the mission's crewed lunar flyby timeline.
Artemis II, featuring astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, aims to validate Orion's deep-space capabilities around the Moon.
Success here paves the way for Artemis III's planned 2027 landing. Nasa emphasized safety: "Their work is critical for maintaining readiness as Artemis II moves closer to launch."
Despite the setback, the agency remains optimistic. Draining tanks and safing the vehicle are underway, with data reviews to pinpoint the leak's root cause.