NASA to Rollback Artemis II Rocket, Spacecraft

NASA will roll the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II back from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The move is planned to begin as soon as Tuesday, Feb. 24, weather permitting. Engineers are preparing for the rollback after an issue with helium flow to the rocket's upper stage. On Feb. 21, managers decided to remove recently installed platforms before high winds reached the Space Coast. That step positioned teams for the rollback while discussions about the helium issue continued. Returning the rocket and spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy is required to determine the cause of the helium issue and repair it. Teams are reviewing the exact time to start the approximately 4-mile, multi-hour trek. The preparations may preserve the April launch window, pending data findings, repair efforts, and how the schedule develops. The Artemis II crew members were released from quarantine the evening of Feb. 21 and remain in Houston. NASA will hold a media event in the coming days to discuss the rollback and plans for the Artemis II test flight.