NASA has delayed a essential take a look at of its next-generation . On Sunday, the company had deliberate to gas the rocket as a part of a “wet dress rehearsal” designed to duplicate the launch countdown course of for its upcoming later this yr. Shortly after 12PM ET, NASA introduced it was scrubbing the take a look at on account of a difficulty with the rocket’s cellular launcher platform.

Before NASA personnel started loading the spacecraft with 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant, the company discovered a system on the launcher very important to the rocket’s security had failed after it misplaced the flexibility to pressurize the platform. “The fans are needed to provide positive pressure to the enclosed areas within the mobile launcher and keep out hazardous gases,” NASA said. “Technicians are unable to soundly proceed with loading the propellants into the rocket’s core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage with out this functionality.”

NASA may re-attempt the take a look at as early as April 4th, although that can rely on a handful of things, together with the provision of gas. The company stated it could maintain a press convention later at this time to debate its plan. A profitable take a look at would mark an essential milestone for NASA. It has spent a decade and greater than $23 billion creating the Space Launch System, and the rocket is the centerpiece of lots of NASA’s plans for the Moon and past.