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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 Area Launch System and cellular 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 older 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 by its paces. The lunar mission might 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 costume 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 by moist costume, we have to see what classes we be taught on account of that, and that may finally lay out our path towards launch,” Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson mentioned. “With a moist costume that’s with out vital points, if every part goes to plan, then actually there are alternatives inside February that might be achievable.”
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NASA’s mega moon rocket emerges from its large warehouse at Kennedy Area Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: 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 score: NASA / Aubrey Gemignan
Throughout 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 rely,” then cease on function at T‑29 seconds. NASA is focusing on Feb. 2 for the essential train, although that would change, relying on preparations.
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“We’ll evaluate 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 cellular launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Area 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 have been found within the connection between the bottom programs and the rocket. In addition they modified and cryogenically examined a key valve that prompted bother through the remaining uncrewed countdown.
Since Artemis I, the Kennedy Area 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 costume rehearsal at Kennedy Area 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 Area Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit score: NASA / Brandon Hancock
As soon as the moist costume rehearsal ends, engineers will pore over the efficiency of the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the bottom programs. Provided that the info seems to be clear will the mission managers transfer on to setting a selected launch date.
NASA officers have rejected any characterization that the staff has “launch fever” or that preparations have been rushed.
“I’ve received 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 staff. “We will fly after we’re prepared.”
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