{"id":23249,"date":"2026-02-19T11:33:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-attempts-second-moon-rocket-fuel-test-after-hydrogen-leaks-delay-mission\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T11:33:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:33:05","slug":"nasa-attempts-second-moon-rocket-fuel-test-after-hydrogen-leaks-delay-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-attempts-second-moon-rocket-fuel-test-after-hydrogen-leaks-delay-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Attempts Second Moon Rocket Fuel Test After Hydrogen Leaks Delay Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771518784722.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771518784722.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771518784722.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771518784722.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. \u2014 Space agency officials attempted a second fueling trial of their massive lunar rocket on Thursday following hydrogen leaks that disrupted the original practice run and pushed back the first crewed moon mission in over 50 years.<\/p><p>Launch crews started the process of loading more than 700,000 gallons of extremely cold propellant into the towering rocket positioned on its launch platform for the second time this month.<\/p><p>This represents the most crucial and difficult phase of the two-day practice countdown sequence. The results will establish whether a March departure is feasible for the Artemis II lunar mission carrying four crew members.<\/p><p>Two weeks earlier during the practice session, hazardous quantities of frigid liquid hydrogen leaked from connection points linking the launch pad to the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket. Technical teams installed new seals and replaced a blocked filter, hoping these repairs would allow successful completion of the repeated test at Kennedy Space Center.<\/p><p>The space agency will not announce a departure date for the Artemis II mission until this fueling demonstration succeeds. Similar to the previous attempt, the four-person crew consisting of three Americans and one Canadian observed the test remotely.<\/p><p>The earliest possible launch window opens March 6. These astronauts would become the first humans to journey to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, completing a 10-day round trip without landing or entering lunar orbit.<\/p><p>The space agency has struggled with hydrogen fuel leakage issues dating back to the space shuttle program, which supplied many of the SLS rocket engines. The initial Artemis test mission without crew members was delayed for months due to hydrogen leaks before successfully launching in November 2022.<\/p><p>Extended gaps between launches make these problems worse, according to NASA&#8217;s new administrator Jared Isaacman, a technology entrepreneur who funded his own orbital flights with SpaceX.<\/p><p>Only two months after taking the position, Isaacman has already committed to redesigning the fuel connection systems between the rocket and launch pad prior to the subsequent Artemis III mission. That future launch, planned for several years from now, aims to place two astronauts on the lunar surface near the moon&#8217;s south pole.<\/p><p>&#8220;We will not launch unless we are ready and the safety of our astronauts will remain the highest priority,&#8221; he stated last week on X.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA conducted another fueling test of its massive moon rocket at Kennedy Space Center after hydrogen leaks disrupted the first attempt two weeks ago. The outcome of this critical test will determine whether the Artemis II mission can launch as early as March with four astronauts aboard. This would mark humanity&#8217;s first return to lunar space since the Apollo program ended in 1972.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":23248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[838],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771518784722.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-62Z","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21950,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-restarts-moon-mission-test-after-fixing-fuel-leaks-at-cape-canaveral\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":0},"title":"NASA Restarts Moon Mission Test After Fixing Fuel Leaks at Cape Canaveral","author":"Admin","date":"February 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA has begun another practice countdown for its Artemis II moon mission after repairing fuel leaks that delayed the launch. The space agency replaced seals and filters at Kennedy Space Center, with the crucial fueling test scheduled for Thursday.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771378294172.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771378294172.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771378294172.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771378294172.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24035,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-eyes-march-launch-for-historic-moon-mission-after-rocket-test-success\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":1},"title":"NASA Eyes March Launch for Historic Moon Mission After Rocket Test Success","author":"Admin","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA is targeting a March launch for its first crewed moon mission in over 50 years following a successful rocket fueling test. Four astronauts will embark on the Artemis II lunar flyby mission, marking America's return to lunar exploration since the Apollo program ended in 1972.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605962812.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605962812.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605962812.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25140,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasas-moon-rocket-heads-back-to-hangar-after-new-technical-problems\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":2},"title":"NASA&#8217;s Moon Rocket Heads Back to Hangar After New Technical Problems","author":"Admin","date":"February 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA's massive moon rocket will be moved back to the hangar this week for additional repairs after a helium system malfunction. The setback pushes back the first crewed moon mission in over 50 years to at least April.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771788757222.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771788757222.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771788757222.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40026,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-moves-repaired-moon-rocket-back-to-launch-pad-for-april-mission-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":3},"title":"NASA Moves Repaired Moon Rocket Back to Launch Pad for April Mission","author":"Admin","date":"March 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA has transported its massive Space Launch System rocket from the hangar to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, targeting an early April liftoff. The mission will send four astronauts around the moon after months of delays caused by fuel leaks and equipment problems.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774014678355.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774014678355.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774014678355.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774014678355.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45705,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-begins-fueling-rocket-for-first-moon-mission-since-1972\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":4},"title":"NASA Begins Fueling Rocket for First Moon Mission Since 1972","author":"Admin","date":"April 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA has started loading fuel into its massive Space Launch System rocket ahead of the Artemis II mission launch Wednesday evening. Four astronauts will embark on humanity's first lunar journey in over five decades, marking a historic return to moon exploration.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775054201431.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775054201431.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775054201431.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775054201431.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45292,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-prepares-for-first-moon-mission-with-astronauts-in-over-50-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":23249,"position":5},"title":"NASA Prepares for First Moon Mission with Astronauts in Over 50 Years","author":"Admin","date":"March 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA is moving forward with its Artemis II mission after resolving technical issues that delayed the launch. 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