Industry
Orion helium leak no threat to Artemis II reentry but will require redesign
During the Artemis II mission, a helium leak was identified within the oxidizer pressurization system of the European Service Module's propulsion system. The in-flight leak rate was 'an order of...
During the Artemis II mission, a helium leak was identified within the oxidizer pressurization system of the European Service Module's propulsion system. The in-flight leak rate was "an order of magnitude higher" than what was observed on the ground, though NASA deemed it still acceptable for the mission. The leak posed no concern for the return to Earth, as the Orion crew module has an independent set of tanks, valves, and thrusters to steer the spacecraft through reentry; however, it will likely lead to an "extensive redesign" of the valve system, characterized as "a production redesign risk for the Artemis 4 mission," currently planned for as soon as early 2028.
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Source: industry