NASA is targeting March 6 to launch four astronauts around the Moon on its Artemis II mission after a successful full-scale fueling rehearsal cleared a major technical hurdle, marking a critical step toward returning humans to deep space.
The U.S. space agency completed a nearly 50-hour launch countdown rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center late Thursday, loading roughly 730,000 gallons of propellant into the Space Launch System rocket. Unlike a previous attempt that was disrupted by hydrogen leaks, the latest test proceeded smoothly, allowing engineers to validate procedures and systems. Officials said the improved outcome strengthens confidence in the schedule but cautioned that additional preparations could still require more time before liftoff.
During the rehearsal, ground teams practiced every stage of the countdown, from tanking cryogenic fuels to verifying launch-day communications and safety checks. The successful fueling demonstration confirmed that hardware modifications and updated procedures had resolved earlier leak concerns, reducing risk and improving readiness for the powerful heavy-lift rocket that will send astronauts farther from Earth than any crewed mission in more than 50 years.
