Weather pending, NASA will roll the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II off the launch pad at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as soon as Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Engineers are continuing to prepare for the move after encountering an issue with the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage.
On Feb. 21, managers decided to remove recently installed platforms before high winds descend on the Space Coast, which poised teams for rollback while discussions about the issue were ongoing. Returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy is required to determine the cause of the issue and fix it.
Teams are reviewing the exact time to begin the approximately 4 mile, multi-hour trek.
The quick work to begin preparations for rolling the rocket and spacecraft back to the VAB potentially preserves the April launch window, pending the outcome of data findings, repair efforts, and how the schedule comes to fruition in the coming days and weeks.
The Artemis II crew members were released from quarantine the evening of Feb. 21 and remain in Houston.
NASA will hold a media event in the coming days to discuss rollback, and plans for the Artemis II test flight.