NASA says it needs to haul the Artemis II rocket back to the hangar for repairs

The Orion spacecraft and upper stage of the SLS rocket tower nearly 300 feet above NASA's launch platform. Umbilical lines connecting to the Orion service module (upper right) and SLS upper stage (lower right) are visible in this photo taken during rollout to the launch pad last month. Credit: Stephen Clark/Ars Technica

A day after NASA officials expressed optimism that they could be ready to launch the Artemis II mission around the Moon next month, the space agency’s administrator announced Saturday that a new problem will require the removal of the rocket from its launch pad in Florida.

The latest issue appeared Friday evening, when data showed an interruption in helium flow into the upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a post on X. Isaacman posted a more thorough update Saturday, writing that engineers are still examining the potential ...