NASA postpones Artemis I launch due to fuel leak
This mission is intended to test systems that will be required to safely send humans to the Moon.
For the second time, NASA postponed Saturday the much-anticipated launch of its Space Launch System rocket and uncrewed Orion capsule.
NASA stated that it won't be able to launch the SLS until late September or October, instead opting to take a break and work out the issues that prevented liftoff on Saturday.
NASA aims to use this rocket and capsule to return people to the Moon's surface for the first time since the 1970s.
It is worth noting that the space agency decided to cancel the launch after a hydrogen leak occurred during fueling that they were unable to repair in time to launch.
Mission controllers reportedly exerted strained efforts to fix the leak several times but were unsuccessful.
NASA engineers intend to make a decision on how to best resolve the problem early next week.
During a post-scrub press conference Saturday, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, "We're not going to launch until it's right."
This postponement comes after a previous launch attempt on Monday was canceled due to technical issues.
NASA intends to return humans to the lunar surface in 2025, with multiple SLS launches planned between now and then.
This mission, dubbed Artemis I, is intended to test systems that will be required to safely send humans to the Moon.
For this flight, the SLS is anticipated to send Orion on a journey around the Moon before returning to Earth and diving in the Pacific Ocean.