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Artemis II Launch Delayed by Helium Flow; Lunar Science Awaits

NASA's Artemis II mission, slated to be the first crewed journey to the Moon's vicinity in over 50 years, faces a significant delay due to a helium flow issue. The space agency observed an interrupted flow of helium in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's interim cryogenic propulsion stage, a critical requirement for launch. Consequently, NASA is preparing to roll back the rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, a move that will "almost assuredly impact the March launch window" previously targeted for the mission. The Artemis II mission, carrying a four-person crew including three U.S. astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch) and one Canadian (Jeremy Hansen), aims to orbit the Moon, offering humans their first glimpse of the lunar far side. Beyond this historic feat, the mission holds substantial scientific objectives. It seeks to explore diverse lunar regions, providing a more complete understanding of the Moon's landscape and composition. Scientists hope to answer enduring questions about the differences between the Moon's near and far sides, its water content, and its evolution, building upon the geographically limited samples collected during the Apollo missions. Studying the Moon is also expected to shed light on Earth's early history and the prevailing theory of lunar formation. Artemis II serves as a crucial precursor to the Artemis III mission, which is scheduled to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.

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