NASA completes a crucial check of Artemis II, with a launch to the moon now focused for March 6

NASA simply handed a significant milestone on its mission to return people to the moon

By Claire Cameron

The second time is the attraction, apparently. NASA efficiently accomplished a significant check of its upcoming moon mission, Artemis II, on Thursday. On Friday Lori Glaze, performing affiliate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, mentioned that, with the check carried out, the company is now focusing on a March 6 launch date for Artemis II.

Known as a moist gown rehearsal, the check concerned fueling the mission’s rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), readying the crew capsule and initiating a mock launch countdown. Its obvious success marked important progress for the company: NASA’s first tried moist gown rehearsal on February 2 uncovered a number of points with each the SLS and the Orion capsule, together with hydrogen gas leaks—an issue that additionally plagued the mission’s predecessor, Artemis I.

At a press convention on Friday, NASA’s Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson mentioned the company is assured it has mounted the leaks and that none arose throughout Thursday’s fueling and mock launch countdown.

On supporting science journalism

If you are having fun with this text, take into account supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By buying a subscription you’re serving to to make sure the way forward for impactful tales in regards to the discoveries and concepts shaping our world right this moment.

The check is crucial to Artemis II: The SLS can’t launch with out passing it. And the failure of the primary moist gown rehearsal compelled NASA to delay its goal launch date to March on the earliest. NASA nonetheless has to assessment information from the wet-dress rehearsal and conduct some additional exams of flight readiness previous to liftoff, Glaze mentioned.

The Artemis II mission will see 4 astronauts—NASA’s Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—fly on a 10-day journey that may take them on an prolonged loop across the moon and again to Earth.

Together, they’ll observe the moon’s elusive farside and carry out crucial exams that may assist kind the idea for Artemis III—NASA’s deliberate mission to, by 2028, return people to the lunar floor for the primary time in additional than half a century.

Editor’s Note (2/20/26): This article was up to date after posting to incorporate extra data from NASA. The textual content was beforehand amended to right Jeremy Hansen’s title. This is a growing story and could also be up to date additional.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you loved this text, I’d prefer to ask to your help. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and business for 180 years, and proper now will be the most crucial second in that two-century historical past.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I used to be 12 years previous, and it helped form the best way I take a look at the world. SciAm all the time educates and delights me, and evokes a way of awe for our huge, stunning universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you assist be certain that our protection is centered on significant analysis and discovery; that we have now the sources to report on the choices that threaten labs throughout the U.S.; and that we help each budding and dealing scientists at a time when the worth of science itself too usually goes unrecognized.

In return, you get important information, charming podcasts, sensible infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch movies, difficult video games, and the science world’s greatest writing and reporting. You may even present somebody a subscription.

There has by no means been a extra vital time for us to face up and present why science issues. I hope you’ll help us in that mission.