NASA eyes March 6 launch for Artemis II moon mission after key test success

WASHINGTON: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is targeting March 6 for the launch of four astronauts around the Moon and back under its Artemis II mission, after completing a crucial launch rehearsal this week.

NASA officials said the space agency successfully wrapped up a nearly 50-hour “Wet Dress Rehearsal” on Thursday night, simulating the full launch countdown of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. During the test, engineers loaded around 730,000 gallons of propellant into the rocket without encountering the hydrogen leaks that disrupted a similar rehearsal last month.

The Artemis II mission will mark NASA’s first crewed flight around the Moon in more than five decades and is a key step in the agency’s broader Artemis programme aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface.

“I felt like last night was a big step in us earning our right to fly. So, felt really good, very proud of the team,” NASA launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said during a news conference.

Despite the successful test, officials cautioned that additional preparations could still affect the final launch date within NASA’s March window.

The remaining work includes testing the rocket’s flight termination system — a critical safety mechanism — and holding a comprehensive Flight Readiness Review. During this day-long review, senior NASA managers will assess all rocket hardware, mission systems and procedures before giving final approval for liftoff.

If launched as planned, Artemis II will send four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and back to Earth, paving the way for future missions aimed at landing astronauts on the lunar surface.