NASA hauls moon rocket off launch pad to fix another launch-delaying malfunction
CBS News • • science
Key Points:
- NASA rolled back the Artemis II moon rocket from its launch pad to the Vehicle Assembly Building to fix a helium pressurization issue that delayed the mission from February to at least April 1.
- The 23.6 million-pound combined load of the Space Launch System rocket and launch platform was transported 4 miles over 10 to 12 hours using an Apollo-era crawler-transporter.
- Engineers will access the rocket’s upper stage, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), to diagnose and repair the helium system, which is critical for propellant pressurization and safety functions.
- The helium problem emerged after successful fueling tests, similar to a valve issue experienced during the Artemis I mission in 2022; other
