NASA's Artemis II mission to be launched in March
What's the story
NASA has officially delayed the launch of its crewed Artemis II mission from February to March 2026. The decision comes after minor issues were detected during a recent Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) test, including a hydrogen leak. The delay will give teams more time to address these problems and prepare for the historic lunar orbit mission.
Prelaunch test
What is Wet Dress Rehearsal?
The Wet Dress Rehearsal is a prelaunch test designed to identify problems on the ground. It aims to ensure a safer and more successful mission for astronauts. During this rehearsal, the engineers encountered a liquid hydrogen leak at the Space Launch System (SLS) core interface, which required multiple adjustments for safety.
Module issues
Orion closeout took longer than expected
The Orion capsule (for astronauts) closeout operations also took longer than expected, with additional work needed on a crew module hatch valve. Cold weather caused some audio dropouts and impacted certain cameras. However, NASA successfully demonstrated the updated purge procedures using breathing air instead of nitrogen, enhancing work crew safety.
Revised timeline
Exact date and time of launch not known
Now, NASA is targeting March 2026 as the earliest possible launch window for Artemis II. The exact date and time will be confirmed after all issues are resolved. The mission will begin its historic crewed journey around the Moon once all preparations are complete.
Press conference
NASA to hold press conference tonight
NASA will hold a press conference at 11:30pm IST today to discuss the initial results from the wet dress rehearsal. It will be streamed live on NASA's YouTube channel. "Crew safety will remain the highest priority, ensuring NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen return home at the end of their mission," said a statement from NASA released today.