Artemis 2: Subsequent steps for NASA’s moon rocket after historic roll to pad

NASA will quickly run a excessive‑stakes fueling check on its Artemis II rocket, a apply run that should succeed earlier than 4 astronauts can fly across the moon.

The U.S. area company inched the 11 million-pound Space Launch System and cellular 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 getting older 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 its paces. The lunar mission will likely 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 “wet dress 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 best way to 29 seconds earlier than liftoff. How this check goes will form the flight timeline and decide whether or not launch alternatives in February stay in play.

“We need to get through wet dress, we need to see what lessons we learn as a result of that, and that will ultimately lay out our path toward launch,” Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson stated. “With a wet dress that is without significant issues, if everything goes to plan, then certainly there are opportunities within February that could be achievable.” 

NASA’s mega moon rocket emerges from its huge warehouse at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: 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: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan

During the check, groups will fill the rocket and rehearse each main step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run by all countdown procedures, together with the ultimate “terminal count,” then cease on goal at T‑29 seconds. NASA is focusing on Feb. 2 for the essential train, although that would change, relying on preparations. 

“We’ll review the data,”  stated Blackwell‑Thompson, “then we’ll set up for our launch attempt.” 

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 cellular launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: 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 programs and the rocket. They additionally modified and cryogenically examined a key valve that prompted hassle throughout the remaining uncrewed countdown.

Since Artemis I, the Kennedy Space Center 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 Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: 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: NASA / Kim Shiflett

When will Artemis II launch?

After 12 hours of crawling, the rocket reaches launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA / Brandon Hancock

Once the moist costume rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the efficiency of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the bottom programs. Only if the information seems clear will the mission managers transfer on to setting a particular launch date. 

NASA officers have rejected any characterization that the workforce has “launch fever” or that preparations have been rushed.

“I’ve got one job, and it’s a safe return of Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I consider that a duty and a trust,” stated John Honeycutt, chairperson of the mission administration workforce. “We’re going to fly when we’re ready.”