NASA encountered a leak during the fueling process of its new moon rocket on Monday, a crucial test that will determine the timing of astronauts’ launch for a lunar fly-around. The 98-meter rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida was being filled with super-cold hydrogen and oxygen to mimic the final stages of a countdown. However, the operation was interrupted when excessive hydrogen was found near the bottom of the rocket, leading to a temporary halt in loading. Loading eventually resumed after an hour but was briefly stopped again before fully resuming later in the day.
A team of experts utilized techniques developed during a previous Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launch to address the issue. The crew, including Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, closely monitored the test from Houston, where they have been in quarantine. The outcome of this operation will determine the timing of their first lunar voyage in over 50 years.
A weather delay had pushed the schedule back by two days due to extreme cold. NASA initiated a countdown procedure to address any potential rocket issues before engine ignition. The first SLS rocket faced delays in 2022 due to hydrogen leaks. If the fueling test is successful, Commander Wiseman and the crew could launch to the moon as early as Sunday, with a deadline of Feb. 11. Any delay beyond this date would postpone the mission until March, as NASA has limited launch opportunities each month. The upcoming mission aims to test the capsule’s systems by sending the astronauts around the moon’s far side and back to Earth, without entering lunar orbit or landing. The Artemis program seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the moon, with Wiseman’s crew paving the way for future moon missions.