NASA Begins Artemis 2 Fueling Test as Astronauts Suit Up and Prepare for 10-Day Moon Mission

NASA commenced the second wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis 2 Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Feb. 17, with a critical fueling test set for Feb. 19. The rehearsal follows an initial attempt in early February that was cut short by a hydrogen leak. Meanwhile, the four astronauts assigned to the 10-day journey around the moon are practicing suiting up in their Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits and learning about the compact living conditions they will face aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The wet dress rehearsal, underway at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B, involves a 50-hour countdown that will culminate in loading more than 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the SLS rocket. Launch controllers began the sequence on Feb. 17, and the most critical milestone — the fueling operation — is scheduled for Feb. 19. The previous rehearsal on Feb. 2-3 detected a hydrogen fuel leak, similar to those that plagued the uncrewed Artemis 1 test campaign before its successful launch in November 2022. Artemis 2 could launch as soon as March 6, carrying a crew of four on a trip around the moon and back.

Artemis II astronauts have also been conducting suit-up procedures in the Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits, which are worn during liftoff and reentry. They perform three leak checks in the suit-up room and three more inside the Orion capsule to ensure the suits are airtight.

Once in space, the crew — Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen — will spend about 10 days proving the Orion spacecraft can sustain human life. The capsule offers roughly 330 cubic feet of pressurized volume, about the size of a minivan and more than 50% larger than the Apollo command module but far smaller than the International Space Station. Koch noted that the space will feel larger in microgravity. After launch, Koch and Hansen will transform the vehicle into a living space, installing a toilet, water dispenser, and food warmer, and folding away the seats.

Meals will be rehydrated food pouches warmed on a compact hot plate, with menu items including shrimp, macaroni and cheese, and tortillas. The toilet, located under the floor near the main hatch, uses airflow for waste management but lacks water recycling. If it fails, backup urine collection bags are available, and solid waste can be vented outside. A door or curtains provide privacy. “Much nicer creature comforts than maybe some of the previous lunar exploration missions had,” said Debbie Korth, Orion deputy program manager.

Exercise will be possible via a flywheel device that allows rowing, squats, and deadlifts. NASA plans to study how the vibrations affect Orion’s steering and how the life-support systems handle additional carbon dioxide and humidity. During the four-day outbound journey, the crew will rehearse using a radiation shelter beneath the cabin floor, designed to provide protection during solar storms. For emergencies such as depressurization, orange survival suits can sustain the crew for up to 144 hours with food, water, medication, and waste removal.

The mission marks the first crewed flight beyond low-Earth orbit in over half a century and is a crucial stepping stone for future moon landings. The crew will not leave the capsule as it loops around the far side of the moon, potentially carrying humans farther from Earth than ever before.