This pressure will increase if there are clean launches of SpaceX Starship in March and April and SpaceX reaches full recovery and likely reusability of the version 3 Super Heavy Booster and Upper stage Starship. Reviewing the Artemis 1 history and what is happening so far in Artemis 2 is a history of helium and hydrogen leaks. They were one after another for Artemis 1 and have been one after another so far for Artemis 2.

Current Situation (as of Feb 24, 2026).

Successful 2nd Wet Dress Rehearsal (Feb 19) that fixed the earlier hydrogen leaks.
There is a new issue (Feb 20–21). Interrupted helium flow to the ICPS upper stage. This repeats a similar Artemis 1 problem. Possible filter, valve, or umbilical quick-disconnect problems.
March 6–11 window is officially dead.

Rollback to Vehicle Assembly Building begins Feb 25 (weather permitting) for full access and repair.

Earliest realistic launch is April 1–6 or April 30 but only IF the fix is straightforward and verification testing goes smoothly.

There have been 8 total failed WDR or scrubbed launches. If there are one or two more or long repairs then this could finally lead to the canceling of SLS/Orion.

Both Artemis 1 and so far for Artemis 2 missions they repeatedly hit the same two culprits — LH? leaks at the ground-to-rocket tail service mast umbilical and helium issues in the ICPS upper stage. Continuing these problems can easily cause months of delays that can lead to the final cancellation of SLS and Orion.

8 total failed WDR or scrubbed launches.
6 failed WDR or scrubbed launches for Artemis 1 and 2 for Artemis 2 so far.

How hard was the previous Artemis 1 fix of a helium problem? It was moderately difficult. It was straightforward technically, but logistically painful.

The check valve was not accessible while the rocket is on the launch pad. The only way to reach and replace it is inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) with proper platforms and access.

They rolled the entire SLS/Orion stack back from Pad 39B to the VAB (rollback began April 26, 2022) and they are doing the same for the similar problem now.

In 2022, they removed the stuck valve, cleaned out all contamination, replaced the valve and any affected seals/O-rings, and re-verified the entire helium system.

Artemis 1 helium fix time required: ~5–6 weeks total impact on the schedule.

Rollback: late April 2022, repair and restacking inspection May, back the pad June 6, WDR, then launched in November.

Artemis 1 passed its final (fourth) Wet Dress Rehearsal on June 20, 2022, but it was not fully clean or ready for immediate launch. The test ended successfully at T-29 seconds after demonstrating most objectives, but NASA had to use workarounds for a persistent liquid hydrogen (LH?) leak at the tail service mast umbilical quick-disconnect on the Mobile Launcher.