NASA to Roll Back Artemis II Rocket for Repairs

Huntsville teams continue supporting Space Launch System mission as technical issue arises

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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NASA is preparing to roll the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission off the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center following the discovery of a technical issue involving helium flow to the rocket's upper stage. The rollback will allow engineers to return the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building for inspection and repairs.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's plans to return humans to the Moon, marking the first crewed flight of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. Any delays or technical issues could impact the mission timeline, so resolving the problem quickly is important.

The details

NASA said the rollback could begin as soon as Tuesday and will require a multi-hour journey of approximately four miles to safely diagnose and resolve the issue before launch. Teams across NASA's Artemis program, including engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, continue supporting launch readiness for the mission.

  • The Artemis II rollback could begin as soon as Tuesday.
  • Artemis II will mark NASA's first human lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Marshall Space Flight Center

A NASA field center located in Huntsville, Alabama that manages the Space Launch System program and provides ongoing technical leadership for the Artemis missions.

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What’s next

NASA officials said additional updates on the Artemis II rocket rollback and launch planning will be shared in the coming days.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's return to the Moon, and resolving this technical issue quickly will be important to staying on track with the mission timeline.