NASA Cancels Rocket Launch Due to Fuel Leak

NASA has canceled the lauch of its SLS rocket for the second time as part of the Artemis 1 lunar mission because of a leak of liquid hydrogen. It was discovered while filling the rocket’s tanks with fuel seven hours before launch.

NASA engineers made several attempts to fix the leak. They tried to heat up the tank connector through which the fuel enters to then cool it down with liquid hydrogen. Later, they tried to increase the pressure in the tank with helium, after which they went back to the heating and cooling method. Despite all the attempts, the problem has not been resolved.

This is the second failed launch attempt this week. NASA may make another attempt on Monday, September 5, if NASA engineers are able to fix the problem by then.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in televised comments:

We'll go when it's ready. We don't go until then, and especially now on a test flight. This is part of the space business.

NASA may attempt to launch the rocket on Monday, during the 90-minute window that opens at 5:12 p.m. EDT on 5 September.