Moon Mission Delayed: Why Artemis II Is Pushing Back

NASA’s plan to send a crew to the moon after half a century has hit a snag. During a practice launch on January 31, 2026, the rocket that will carry four astronauts began leaking liquid hydrogen. The leak forced engineers to stop the fuel flow, fix it, and then restart—only for the problem to recur later that day. Because of this, the rehearsal ended early and the official launch date slipped from February 8 to sometime in March. The next step after Artemis I, which flew an unmanned probe around the moon last year, is to send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on a ten‑day trip. This mission is key to NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to land people on the lunar surface by 2028 and eventually build a station there.A similar leak troubled Artemis I in spring 2022, delaying its launch until November. That history makes the current issue feel familiar but still unsettling. In addition to the hydrogen problem, the rehearsal also saw audio loss and a hatch pressurization glitch—another reminder that rocket tests can expose many hidden faults. NASA officials said safety is the top priority. They acknowledged that long gaps between space shuttle launches can bring unforeseen challenges, but they remain confident the crew will launch when conditions are right. The astronauts have been released from quarantine and can return to training while the team resolves the issues. If the delay pushes the launch further into 2026, it would be a significant setback for a mission that could change how we explore the moon. Fans can still follow the countdown online or, for those nearby, attend a viewing at Kennedy Space Center. The focus will be on whether the hydrogen leak is finally fixed before the next launch window opens.