Nasa forced to resolve last minute hitch with Artemis II before mission blasts off to Moon
Nasa has been forced to fix an issue with a 'crucial' safety system aboard the Artemis II rocket just hours before it is due to launch.
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The space agency reported an issue with the flight termination system (FTS) which was found during last-minute checks in Cape Canaveral.
Despite the issue, the FTS was later fixed, with a second issue linked to the temperature of a battery was discovered.
Tests are ongoing to determine whether the issue is a battery or simply a sensor issue.
The outcome will determine whether the launch will take place as planned.
The FTS system is essentially the abort system, which can destroy the rocket if it veers off course or poses a safety threat.
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"It's a very critical safety component, in terms of how the range keeps the public safe here," a NASA commentator said on the agency's livestream.
On the livestream, technicians could be seen attempting to fix the system.
The historic mission is still set to blast off shortly after 11:30pm UK time on Wednesday.
Four astronauts – three US and one Canadian – have already been strapped in aboard the 322-foot rocket, with weather conditions holding.
The mission previously had to be postponed by two months due to hydrogen fuel leaks and clogged helium lines.
The last time Nasa sent astronauts to the Moon was during Apollo 17 in 1972.
The new Artemis programme aims for a two-person landing in 2028.