spacetoday.net: NASA planning Artemis 2 rollback after upper stage issue

Posted: Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 11:50 AM ET (1650 GMT)
Artemis 2 on the pad, 2026 Jan 29 (NASA)

Just a day after setting a March launch date for the Artemis 2 mission, NASA said Saturday a launch next month is no longer possible because of a problem with the SLS upper stage. NASA announced Saturday it was preparing to roll back the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft from Launch Complex 39B after finding a problem with the helium pressurization system with the upper stage. The problem was detected after a successful second wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis 2 mission Thursday, with none of the hydrogen leak problems detected during the first test. On Friday, NASA said it was targeting a launch as soon as March 6, the opening of a launch window than runs through March 11. IOn Saturday, NASA said the repairs needed for the upper stage prevented a launch in March, with the next opportunity in early April.