NASA is preparing to roll the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission off the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center following the discovery of a technical issue involving helium flow to the rocket’s upper stage.

The Artemis II rocket rollback could begin as soon as Tuesday pending weather conditions and will allow engineers to return the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building for inspection and repairs. Teams began preparations after removing recently installed platforms ahead of forecasted high winds along Florida’s Space Coast.

The move will require a multi-hour journey of approximately four miles and is considered a necessary step to safely diagnose and resolve the issue before launch.

NASA officials said beginning rollback preparations quickly could help preserve the mission’s upcoming launch window, depending on what engineers learn during inspection and how soon repairs can be completed.

The latest development comes as teams across NASA’s Artemis program, including engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, continue supporting launch readiness for the mission. Marshall manages the Space Launch System program and provides ongoing technical leadership as NASA works toward its next crewed lunar flight.

Artemis II will send four astronauts on a mission around the Moon, marking the first crewed mission of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft and NASA’s first human lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

NASA officials said additional updates on the Artemis II rocket rollback and launch planning will be shared in the coming days.

Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.