NASA delays lunar trip for astronauts until March

Hydrogen leaks during fueling test force postponement of Artemis moon mission

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:15am

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NASA has pushed back the launch of its Artemis moon mission with astronauts on board until at least March 6 due to persistent hydrogen fuel leaks that disrupted a critical pre-launch test. The space agency had been targeting a launch as soon as this weekend, but the leaks that also plagued the first test flight of the Space Launch System rocket in 2022 forced the delay.

Why it matters

The Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era, with plans to establish a long-term presence and explore the lunar south pole region. This delay pushes back the first crewed Artemis mission, which was seen as a major milestone on the path to those ambitious goals.

The details

During the fueling test on Monday, hydrogen leaks cropped up early on and again hours later, forcing launch controllers to halt the countdown at the five-minute mark before they could get all the way to the half-minute mark as planned. NASA tried several adjustments to reseat any loose seals and warm up the area between the rocket and fuel lines, but the leaks persisted.

  • The first test flight of the Space Launch System rocket in 2022 was also delayed for months due to similar hydrogen fuel leaks.
  • NASA had been targeting a launch as soon as this weekend before the latest delay.
  • The new target launch date is now set for at least March 6.

The players

Jared Isaacman

NASA's new administrator.

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis crew that will fly around the moon.

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What they’re saying

“As always, safety remains our top priority. We will only launch when we believe we are as ready to undertake this historic mission.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The launch team will conduct another fueling test before committing the four-astronaut crew - three Americans and one Canadian - to the lunar fly-around mission. The crew has been given the all-clear to emerge from quarantine in Houston and will reenter it two weeks before the next launch attempt.

The takeaway

This delay underscores the technical challenges NASA continues to face in preparing the new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the high-stakes Artemis moon program. While frustrating, the space agency is prioritizing safety and thorough testing to ensure a successful first crewed mission around the moon in over 50 years.