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Artemis II Moon Rocket Refueled in Practice Countdown Setting Stage for Historic Flight
NASA's successful fueling and countdown rehearsal for Artemis II cleared hydrogen leak issues, advancing the mission for a potential March 6 launch with four astronauts.
- On Feb 19, NASA ran a second wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B, filling the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft with propellant and reaching T-minus 29 seconds twice.
- After a Feb. 2 stop for a liquid hydrogen leak, technicians and engineers replaced seals and a ground support equipment filter, delaying the crewed launch to early March.
- Slow chilldown then fast fill loaded the core stage and upper stage with more than 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen chilled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit and liquid oxygen chilled to minus 297 degrees.
- Mission managers will now review rehearsal data and, if favorable, NASA says liftoff with the Artemis II four-person crew on a 10-day lunar flyby could come as early as March 6, 2026, with a news briefing at 11 a.m. ET on Friday.
- Artemis II will be the program's first crewed test flight, sending four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby reaching 4,600 miles beyond the far side to prepare Artemis 3's lunar landing.
173 Articles
173 Articles
The American Space Agency wants to carry out the first manned mission to the moon after more than half a century.
Artemis II’s second dress rehearsal for moon-bound launch was a success, NASA says
NASA successfully fueled its space launch system rocket with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, simulating launch-day conditions. The four astronauts on the mission are expected to enter quarantine in Houston on Friday evening.
Artemis II update: NASA targets March 6 for launch of historic moon mission following successful 'wet dress rehearsal'
NASA is targeting March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for the Artemis II mission to the moon following a successful 'wet dress rehearsal' on Thursday.
NASA eyes March 6 to send four astronauts to moon under Artemis 2 lunar launch
NASA is targeting March 6 for the Artemis 2 mission, aiming to send four astronauts on the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. A successful 50-hour launch rehearsal, free of hydrogen leaks, has positioned the agency to meet this early March date, though further pad work and a dress rehearsal are still required.
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