Hydrogen leak delayed the preparation of the Artemis II crewed mission

LiquidityNinja · 2026-02-13T16:07:10+00:00

NASA has postponed the Artemis II lunar mission launch to no earlier than March due to a critical liquid hydrogen leak detected during fueling system tests. Additional issues with the pressurization valve and communication systems also require resolution. This mission aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972, making thorough preparation essential.

LiquidityNinja

2026-02-13 16:07:10

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NASA has announced that the launch of the Artemis II lunar expedition has been postponed to no earlier than March of this year. The delay was caused by a critical issue—a liquid hydrogen leak detected during fueling system testing. This postponement is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis and re-test before resuming preparations.

Technical issues with the hydrogen fuel system

During a control test, NASA engineers encountered multiple malfunctions. The primary issue was a liquid hydrogen leak, which unexpectedly intensified. Simultaneously, faults were identified in the hatch pressurization valve—a component responsible for maintaining even pressure distribution within the fuel system. Liquid hydrogen is a critically important component for the SLS booster and requires the highest reliability of sealing systems.

Additional control system failures

In addition to fuel problems, engineers discovered malfunctions in some audio channels of the communication system. Although less critical than the hydrogen leak, these issues must be resolved before the crewed mission can proceed.

Historical significance of returning to the Moon

The Artemis II mission aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972—a fifty-year gap in crewed lunar expeditions. The delay caused by issues with the hydrogen system and other technical deficiencies ensures that the NASA team will have the necessary time for complete analysis and resolution of the identified problems before the historic launch.

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