NASA / Sam Lott
NASA to Rollback Artemis II Rocket, Spacecraft (News Release)
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, February 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 February 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 February 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.
Source: NASA.Gov
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After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy. This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window. @NASA will…
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 21, 2026
Hours after being lifted, the temporary pad access platform at LC-39B has been lowered back to the ground following the announcement by NASA that SLS could potentially be rolled back to the VAB, due to issues with helium on the ICPS.@NASASpaceflight | https://t.co/BEepgAJYUG pic.twitter.com/D0RcR7Ly8o
— Elisar Priel (@ENNEPS) February 21, 2026
Earlier today, the slidewire baskets, which would be used in an emergency to evacuate the launch pad, were released from the tower and descended to a staging area near the pad’s perimeter. This enables the disconnection of the cables that the baskets are attached to. pic.twitter.com/ia3L4PvJOz
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) February 22, 2026
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