"This Just In..." Artemis 2 may be OFF the schedule

This morning (Saturday, Feb. 21), NASA announced that it had detected a problem with Artemis II's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that has put the Friday launch in jeopardy.

The issue, a helium-flow interruption in the vehicle's upper stage, was noticed overnight from Friday (Feb. 20) to Saturday. It will likely require a rollback from the pad to KSC's huge Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said via X on Saturday. 

"This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window," Isaacman said.

This comes less than 24 hours after the press conference celebrating how well the Wet Dress Rehearsal of Artemis II took place concluding with the launch being assigned and listed on Next Spaceflight. At the moment, it has been pushed to April 1st at 6:24PM. 

It's worth noticing that this helium flow issue was in the upper stage of the SLS rocket while the majority of the WDR test completed Thursday was to the booster or core stage of the SLS. I don't know if this system gets activated during the WDR or not.  

So how about a new world record? 

SpaceX to launch Booster 1067 on its 33rd flight tonight

Tonight at 9:18 PM EST (0218 UTC) SpaceX will launch a batch of Starlink v2-mini satellites for their second-generation high-speed low earth orbit internet satellite constellation. 

Yes, this is B1067, the fleet leader with 32 missions after a 75 day turnaround from its last record-setting flight. The booster landing will be on A Shortfall Of Gravitas or ASOG.

The first stage of B1067 stands on the ocean-based droneship "Just Read the Instructions" after performing its record 32nd propulsive landing on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX - with minor edits to exposure - SiG)