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. area company inched the 11 million-pound Area Launch System and cell 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 growing old 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 way of its paces. The lunar mission shall 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 costume 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 way of moist costume, we have to see what classes we study because of that, and that can in the end lay out our path towards launch,” Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson stated. “With a moist costume that’s with out vital points, if the whole lot goes to plan, then actually there are alternatives inside February that could possibly be achievable.”
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NASA’s mega moon rocket emerges from its huge warehouse at Kennedy Area Middle in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Joel Kowsky
When is the moist costume rehearsal?
The 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, rolls previous the firing room on its method to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan
In the course of the take a look at, groups will fill the rocket and rehearse each main step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run by way of all countdown procedures, together with the ultimate “terminal rely,” then cease on function at T‑29 seconds. NASA is concentrating on Feb. 2 for the essential train, although that might change, relying on preparations.
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“We’ll evaluate the information,” stated 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 cell launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Area 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 have been found within the connection between the bottom methods and the rocket. In addition they modified and cryogenically examined a key valve that brought about bother through the ultimate uncrewed countdown.
Since Artemis I, the Kennedy Area 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 costume rehearsal at Kennedy Area 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 Area Middle in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Brandon Hancock
As soon as the moist costume rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the efficiency of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the bottom methods. Provided that the information appears to be like clear will the mission managers transfer on to setting a particular launch date.
NASA officers have rejected any characterization that the group has “launch fever” or that preparations have been rushed.
“I’ve bought one job, and it is a protected return of Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I take into account {that a} responsibility and a belief,” stated John Honeycutt, chairperson of the mission administration group. “We’ll fly after we’re prepared.”
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