NASA is currently addressing persistent hydrogen leaks and ground equipment failures hindering the Artemis 2 moon mission's preparation. Recent "confidence tests" intended to verify repairs to the Space Launch System rocket's fueling seals were only partially successful due to a faulty filter.

Despite these technical setbacks, agency leadership remains optimistic about meeting a March launch window following an upcoming full-scale rehearsal. Administrator Jared Isaacman has indicated that while safety limits for leaks were recently relaxed based on new data, the fueling interfaces will likely require a complete redesign for future missions.

These reports highlight the ongoing financial and technical challenges of maintaining the bespoke SLS architecture as NASA transitions toward more modern, reusable flight hardware.