Space-Siren’s Call: Why Artemis 2 is Returning to the Hangar
In the latest setback for the Artemis 2 mission, NASA said on Saturday that it will move the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) starting February 24. Because of this delay, the first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 will now happen no earlier than April.
Just one day earlier, NASA had said it was ready to launch Artemis 2 as soon as March 6, after successfully completing a second wet dress rehearsal (a full fueling test and practice countdown) on February 19. However, on February 21, engineers found a problem when the helium supply to the rocket’s upper stage was unexpectedly interrupted.
Helium is used to keep pressure inside the rocket’s liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks. Without this pressure, the fuel cannot properly flow to the engine, which is needed to push the Orion spacecraft toward the Moon.
It is important to note that the helium system was working fine during the main practice test. The problem was found later during routine checks after the test was completed. This means the issue did not show up during the final major test that was supposed to confirm the rocket was fully ready to fly.
Engineers are trying to find out exactly where the problem is. They are checking the helium pipes that carry the gas, a control valve inside the rocket’s upper stage, and a filter that connects the ground equipment to the rocket.
Until they fix the issue, the team is using a backup system to keep the rocket’s upper stage safe, properly pressurized, and stable, so nothing gets damaged.
This problem is similar to one that happened during the Artemis 1 mission in 2022, when a faulty helium check valve in the same type of upper stage forced NASA to move the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). However, in that case, the issue was found during the wet dress rehearsal test itself.
No matter where the current problem started, the rocket has to be moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) before engineers can properly fix it. This 525-foot-tall building, one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, is the only place ever used to put together a rocket that carried humans to another world. Inside the VAB, engineers have large cranes and a controlled indoor environment, which help them safely repair and check the rocket’s upper stage.
To reach the building, the rocket will travel about 6.8 kilometres along a special road at a very slow speed of around 1.6 kilometres per hour, carried by NASA’s huge moving platform called the crawler. The crawler alone weighs about 3,000 tons (without load) and can carry up to 8,100 tons. It uses nearly 165 gallons (624.5 lts) of diesel for every mile it moves, showing how massive and powerful it is.
The launch pad platforms that were set up on February 20 for launch preparations had to be removed first. This was done to protect them from expected strong winds and also to clear the way in case the rocket needed to be moved back. Now that this work is finished, the path is clear for the rocket to return to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) as early as February 24.
Because of the Moon’s flight path requirements, Artemis 2 can launch only during a short window of a few days, and this chance comes about once every four weeks. Due to the helium leak and the repair work needed, the mission will now miss the March 6–11 launch window.
As reported by astronomy.com , the next launch window is from April 1 to April 6, and NASA is now aiming for this period. However, if engineers are unable to fix the problem and prepare the rocket in time, the mission could be delayed even further. The agency will also hold a media briefing in the coming days to give more details.
The Artemis 2 crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (NASA), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency) — were released from quarantine and returned to Houston once again.
The crew had first started their usual 14-day pre-launch quarantine on January 23, but they were released early February after the launch was postponed from its planned February window to March.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of the publication, its editors, or its management. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of any information, statements, or opinions presented in this piece.
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Deepika Kumari leads Indian recurve archery team to dramatic World Cup gold
Shanghai (PTI): The Indian trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and teenager Kumkum Mohod held their nerve in a tense shoot-off to beat home favourites China and clinch the women's recurve team gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 here on Sunday.
In a final marked by fluctuating fortunes, India edged past the home side 5-4 (28-26) in the shoot-off after the four-set regulation ended 4-4.
The victory was especially sweeter as India had earlier stunned record 10-time Olympic champions South Korea in the semifinals en route to their first World Cup women's team gold since 2021.
Deepika, who was also part of India's World Cup-winning teams in Guatemala City and Paris in 2021, now has seven World Cup team gold medals to her name since 2010.
It was also the Indian women recurve team's first World Cup medal in three years, its previous podium finish coming in Stage 4 in Paris in 2023 where Ankita was a member of the winning team.
India's campaign in Shanghai has thus already yielded two medals after compound archer Sahil Jadhav opened the country's account, securing a bronze on Saturday.
India also remained in contention for another podium finish later in the day with recurve archer Simranjeet Kaur set to compete in the semifinals. She is a win away from her maiden individual World Cup medal.
Travelling without a full-time national coach amid the continuing impasse over appointments, it was the vastly experienced Deepika who led from the front, constantly motivating her teammates during breaks and changeovers.
Prafull Dange, who was the designated women's recurve coach after his ward Kumkum topped the national trials, largely remained in the background as Deepika guided the side through the pressure moments against a hostile home crowd and vocal Chinese support staff.
Against a young Chinese side comprising Zhu Jingyi, Huang Yuwei and teenage archer Yu Qi, who all made their World Cup debuts only last year, India looked in control initially but nearly let the match slip after taking the opening set (54-53).
Shooting last in the Indian order, Deepika set the tone with successive 10s as India edged the first set despite Ankita (8-8) and 17-year-old Kumkum (10-8) putting up an inconsistent show.
Deepika continued her fine rhythm in the second set with another perfect 10 as India briefly held a one-point advantage (28-27) midway through the end. But China responded strongly with two 9s and a 10 in their final three arrows of the second set to post 55.
Ankita replied with a 9, but Kumkum managed only an 8, leaving Deepika needing a 10 to level the set.
The four-time Olympian, however, slipped to a 7 as India lost the set 52-55 and China drew level at 2-2.
The hosts then moved ahead in the third set. The teams were initially tied at 56, but a review upgraded China's final arrow from 8 to 9, handing them the set 57-56 and a 4-2 lead.
India appeared on the verge of defeat in the fourth set despite Deepika rediscovering her touch with two 10s. Kumkum's final arrow landed in the 7-ring as India posted a modest 54.
China required two 10s and a 9 from their last three arrows to seal the match.
Zhu and Huang delivered perfect 10s, leaving 18-year-old Yu Qi needing a 9 for victory in front of the home crowd.
But the youngster shot an 8, allowing India a dramatic escape and forcing a shoot-off.
The Indians peaked at the right moment in the decider. Ankita opened with a 9, Kumkum followed with a superb 10, and Deepika calmly delivered a 9 when only an 8 was needed to seal the title.
