NASA rolls back Artemis II rocket for repairs, delaying crewed moon mission to at least April.

NASA has moved the Artemis II moon rocket from Launch Pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs following a helium pressurization system failure, delaying the crewed lunar fly-around mission until at least April. The 322-foot rocket, which had been on the pad for a month, had problems repressurizing its upper stage following a fueling test, necessitating a slow 4-mile return via a historic crawler-transporter. Engineers will inspect and repair the system, which includes replacing batteries in the rocket's self-destruct mechanism. This comes after previous delays due to hydrogen leaks, pushing the launch of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen beyond their original targets. The rollback allows for repairs in a controlled environment, with launch windows limited by orbital mechanics.