Artemis 2: Next steps for NASA’s moon rocket...

NASA will quickly run a excessive‑stakes fueling take a look at on its Artemis II rocket, a follow run that should succeed earlier than 4 astronauts can fly across the moon.

The U.S. space company inched the 11 million-pound Space Launch System and cellular launcher to a Cape Canaveral, Florida, launchpad on Saturday, Jan. 17. The sluggish procession of the 322-foot rocket, topped with the Orion spaceship, took 12 hours on the ageing crawler-transporter to finish. 

That four-mile trek might mark the primary leg of Artemis II, a 10-day journey across the moon and again that can put the spaceship by its paces. The lunar mission might be NASA’s first with astronauts —Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen — in 53 years since Apollo 17. 

The so-called “moist gown rehearsal” will load the mega moon rocket with 700,000 gallons of extremely‑chilly liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants and take the countdown all the way in which to 29 seconds earlier than liftoff. How this take a look at goes will form the flight timeline and decide whether or not launch alternatives in February stay in play.

“We have to get by moist gown, we have to see what classes we be taught because of that, and that can finally lay out our path towards launch,” Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson mentioned. “With a moist gown that’s with out important points, if the whole lot goes to plan, then actually there are alternatives inside February that may very well be achievable.” 

NASA’s mega moon rocket emerges from its large warehouse at Kennedy House Middle in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Joel Kowsky

When is the moist gown rehearsal? 

The 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, rolls previous the firing room on its strategy to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan

Throughout the take a look at, groups will fill the rocket and rehearse each main step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run by all countdown procedures, together with the ultimate “terminal rely,” then cease on objective at T‑29 seconds. NASA is focusing on Feb. 2 for the essential train, although that might change, relying on preparations. 

“We’ll overview the info,”  mentioned Blackwell‑Thompson, “then we’ll arrange for our launch try.” 

The outcomes will decide whether or not NASA will hit its soonest launch window, which opens Feb. 6.

NASA’s crawler-transporter carries the 11-million-pound rocket stack and cellular launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy House Middle on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Artemis II builds on classes from the uncrewed maiden voyage in 2022, which wanted a number of tries to finish fueling. Engineers adjusted how they load liquid oxygen after seeing temperature points and modified {hardware} after hydrogen leaks had been found within the connection between the bottom programs and the rocket. In addition they modified and cryogenically examined a key valve that caused trouble throughout the ultimate uncrewed countdown.

Since Artemis I, the Kennedy House Middle has revised procedures and upgraded {hardware} as a part of the Artemis II plan.

The mega moon rocket traverses 4 miles to get to the launchpad for a moist gown rehearsal at Kennedy House Middle in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Ben Smegelsky

From left, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover, and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman take questions from reporters because the mega moon rocket rolls behind them to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Kim Shiflett

When will Artemis II launch?

After 12 hours of crawling, the rocket reaches launchpad 39B at Kennedy House Middle in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Brandon Hancock

As soon as the moist gown rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the efficiency of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the bottom programs. Provided that the info seems to be clear will the mission managers transfer on to setting a selected launch date. 

NASA officers have rejected any characterization that the group has “launch fever” or that preparations have been rushed.

“I’ve acquired one job, and it is a secure return of Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I think about {that a} responsibility and a belief,” mentioned John Honeycutt, chairperson of the mission administration group. “We’ll fly after we’re prepared.”