NASA will quickly run a excessive‑stakes fueling check on its Artemis II rocket, a follow run that should succeed earlier than 4 astronauts can fly across the moon.
The U.S. house company inched the 11 million-pound House Launch System and cell launcher to a Cape Canaveral, Florida, launchpad on Saturday, Jan. 17. The gradual procession of the 322-foot rocket, topped with the Orion spaceship, took 12 hours on the growing old crawler-transporter to finish.
That four-mile trek may mark the primary leg of Artemis II, a 10-day journey across the moon and again that may put the spaceship via its paces. The lunar mission shall 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 “moist gown 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 have to get via moist gown, we have to see what classes we be taught because of that, and that may in the end lay out our path towards launch,” Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson mentioned. “With a moist gown that’s with out vital points, if every little thing goes to plan, then definitely there are alternatives inside February that may very well be achievable.”
NASA’s mega moon rocket emerges from its huge warehouse at Kennedy House Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Joel Kowsky
When is the moist gown rehearsal?
The 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, rolls previous the firing room on its approach to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan
In the course of the check, groups will fill the rocket and rehearse each main step of launch‑day fueling. Controllers will run via all countdown procedures, together with the ultimate “terminal depend,” then cease on goal at T‑29 seconds. NASA is focusing on Feb. 2 for the essential train, although that might change, relying on preparations.
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“We’ll assessment the info,” mentioned Blackwell‑Thompson, “then we’ll arrange for our launch try.”
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 cell launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy House Heart on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: 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 had been found within the connection between the bottom methods and the rocket. In addition they modified and cryogenically examined a key valve that triggered hassle in the course of the last uncrewed countdown.
Since Artemis I, the Kennedy House Heart 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 gown rehearsal at Kennedy House Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: 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 score: NASA / Kim Shiflett
When will Artemis II launch?
After 12 hours of crawling, the rocket reaches launchpad 39B at Kennedy House Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Brandon Hancock
As soon as the moist gown rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the efficiency of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the bottom methods. Provided that the info appears to be like 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 acquired one job, and it is a protected return of Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I contemplate {that a} responsibility and a belief,” mentioned John Honeycutt, chairperson of the mission administration workforce. “We will fly once we’re prepared.”
