tech
February 3, 2026
Nasa delays moon rocket launch by a month after fuel leaks during test
Artemis II mission was due to begin as early as next week and astronauts have spent almost two weeks in quarantine

TL;DR
- Nasa's Artemis II mission has been postponed until March.
- Issues discovered during a 'wet dress rehearsal' included leaking hydrogen from the SLS rocket and a problem with a valve on the Orion capsule.
- The mission aims to send astronauts around the moon, marking the first crewed trip to lunar vicinity since 1972.
- Christina Koch will be the first woman, and Victor Glover the first person of color, to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
- The crew includes commander Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- The delay will require the crew to re-enter quarantine before the new launch window.
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