NASA has completed a successful dry run of launch procedures for the upcoming Artemis II moon mission, which will feature Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover. The rehearsal successfully counted down to just past T-minus 30 seconds twice, indicating readiness for a launch within a minute on the actual launch day.
Acting associate administrator of the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Lori Glaze, expressed satisfaction with the smooth countdown during a media conference. The agency is now aiming for a launch attempt on March 6 following a successful wet dress rehearsal. However, Glaze cautioned that there is still work to be done, with the four astronauts set to enter a two-week quarantine and a flight readiness review scheduled for the end of the month.
Previous rocket rehearsal attempts encountered challenges, notably with fuel leaks. The latest rehearsal encountered a hydrogen leak issue during fuelling, similar to past experiences with the Artemis I mission. Despite minor hiccups, including ground communication problems, NASA successfully loaded the core stage of the rocket with hydrogen, a critical milestone.
The next launch opportunity for Artemis II is slated for early March. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will carry the astronauts, but the program has faced delays, leading to setbacks for the Artemis I mission. Following modifications post the first Artemis II rehearsal earlier this year, the recent dry run showed promising results without any significant leaks.
Artemis II will involve the astronauts circumnavigating the moon to test the Orion spacecraft and conduct experiments. This mission serves as a precursor to Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the moon’s surface, scheduled for no earlier than 2028. NASA will hold a media conference to discuss the wet dress rehearsal findings on Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
