NASA is preparing to roll back its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, delaying the Artemis II mission, following an issue with helium flow in the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS). The rollback is expected to commence no earlier than Tuesday, February 24, 2026, effectively removing March as a potential launch window.
The problem was detected overnight on Saturday, February 21, 2026, prompting NASA teams to review data and prepare for the rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Pre-rollback work, including the removal of pad access platforms installed the previous day, is already underway, complicated by forecasted high winds. “Regardless of the potential fault, accessing and remediating any of these issues can only be performed in the VAB,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a statement on Saturday.
Artemis II is designed to be the first crewed mission to fly around the Moon in 50 years and the inaugural flight with astronauts aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. The mission aims to demonstrate the capabilities needed for long-term lunar missions and future endeavors to Mars. The current plan calls for a 10-day mission with a crew of four.
NASA had previously announced a target launch date of March 6, 2026, following a successful Wet Dress Rehearsal. However, the helium flow anomaly quickly rendered that date unviable. The agency is now looking toward a potential April launch, though that timeline is contingent on resolving the issue with the ICPS and completing the rollback and subsequent repairs.
While the Artemis II mission faces delays, SpaceX is preparing for the flight test of its Starship V3, designated FT-12, with a targeted launch date as early as March 9, 2026. This flight will feature the debut of the Super Heavy B19 booster and the S39 spacecraft. The mission is a transatmospheric test, similar to previous Starship flights, and will focus on testing the new V3 design.
A key innovation in the V3 iteration is the implementation of Raptor 3 engines, utilizing a unique 3D-printed construction that integrates secondary flow paths and regenerative cooling for improved performance and simplified maintenance. The new design is expected to reduce the weight of the Super Heavy booster by hundreds of kilograms per engine. The V3 also features a lighter airframe designed to reduce aerodynamic drag during atmospheric ascent.
Further modifications include a reduction in the number of grid fins on the Super Heavy booster, while increasing their strength and surface area. The second stage, the Starship itself, is taller in the V3 configuration, reaching approximately 124.4 meters in height, and incorporates a new hybrid heat shield combining ceramic materials with ablative and metallic elements. SpaceX is also integrating a full docking system for on-orbit refueling, a critical capability for future lunar missions, including Artemis III.
The FT-12 launch will originate from Orbital Launch Pad 2 (OLP-2) at SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The construction of OLP-2, alongside ongoing modernization efforts at the Florida launch site, is intended to accelerate the pace of Starship development and testing.
