Nasa yesterday announced that the rocket tasked with carrying four astronauts on a historic round trip to the moon will be removed from the launch pad due to a new leak, postponing the mission that was planned to launch on March 6.
They found an interruption in the flow of helium within the interim cryogenic propulsion stage of the Space Launch System rocket during overnight operations on February 21.
This specific stage is vital for pushing the Orion spacecraft toward the Moon, and helium is a non-negotiable requirement for a safe launch.
As of Friday, Nasa officials remained publicly confident that the historic lunar flyby would proceed on schedule.
Teams are now preparing to roll the massive rocket and the Orion capsule back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
This move is necessary to troubleshoot the helium issue in a controlled environment.
The timing is particularly tight because pad access platforms must be removed before forecast high winds arrive tomorrow, as these structures have strict wind-driven safety constraints.
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