NASA to Delay Artemis II Moon Mission for More Rocket Repairs

Space agency will return massive moon rocket to hangar for fixes before astronauts can launch

Feb. 22, 2026 at 8:39pm

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NASA announced it will roll its giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center this week for additional repairs, further delaying the Artemis II mission that will send the first astronauts to the moon since the Apollo program. The move comes after a recent fueling test uncovered a new issue with the rocket's helium system, which is required to purge the engines and pressurize the fuel tanks.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the lunar surface, with the goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the moon. This delay pushes back the timeline for that milestone, though NASA remains optimistic about launching the mission in April if the repairs go smoothly.

The details

NASA had planned to launch Artemis II on March 6, already a month later than originally scheduled, after recently resolving issues with hydrogen fuel leaks. But during a repeat fueling test on Thursday, engineers discovered a problem with the rocket's helium system that will require further investigation and repairs back in the assembly building.

  • NASA plans to roll the SLS rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Tuesday, February 28.
  • The agency is still targeting an April launch attempt for Artemis II, but says that timeline will depend on the outcome of the repairs.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the country's space program and civilian space exploration.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's powerful new rocket that will launch the Artemis missions, including the first crewed flight around the moon in over 50 years.

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What’s next

NASA says the quick rollback to the assembly building is intended to preserve an April launch attempt for Artemis II, but the agency stressed that timeline will depend on how the repairs go. The space agency has only a limited number of launch opportunities each month to send the Artemis II crew of four astronauts around the moon and back.

The takeaway

This latest delay in the Artemis II mission highlights the technical challenges NASA continues to face in preparing its new moon rocket for human spaceflight. While setbacks are common in complex space programs, the agency remains determined to get the SLS ready to carry astronauts to the lunar vicinity for the first time since the Apollo era.