NASA Completes Key Fuel Test for Artemis II Moon Mission
NASA successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II moon mission, fueling the SLS rocket and testing launch procedures. The test involved loading over 700,000 gallons of propellant and conducting terminal count runs, with the four-person crew observing from launch control. Preparations continue for a potential March launch window.
NASA has successfully completed a critical wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis II crewed lunar mission, fueling the Space Launch System rocket and demonstrating the launch countdown sequence at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test involved loading more than 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant and conducting two runs of terminal count, the final phase of the launch countdown, with the Artemis II crew observing from the Launch Control Center.
During the rehearsal, engineers closely monitored liquid hydrogen fueling operations, which had posed challenges in earlier attempts. Hydrogen gas concentrations remained under allowable limits, giving engineers confidence in new seals installed in an interface used to route fuel to the rocket. A temporary loss of ground communications occurred early in fueling operations at the Launch Control Center, with operators switching to backup communication systems to maintain safe propellant loading before normal communications were restored.
The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Although NASA has not announced a formal launch date, preparations are underway to preserve flexibility within the March launch window, with the Artemis II crew preparing to enter quarantine to limit exposure to illness before launch.
Over the next several days, technicians will use cranes to set up temporary access platforms on the mobile launcher to reach the upper segments of the SLS solid rocket boosters and core stage intertank. This will allow them to service the flight termination system and retest it to meet Eastern Range safety requirements. The platforms were developed based on lessons learned during Artemis I and enable NASA to complete end-to-end testing of the safety system while at the launch pad.
The closeout crew will also practice closeout operations once more, adding to the team's proficiency. Artemis II represents the first crewed milestone of the Artemis program, with plans for Artemis III to test integrated operations of Orion and lunar landers in Earth orbit next year, followed by lunar landings starting with Artemis IV in 2028.