NASA willhave another go at a critical rocket fueling testas the agency attempts to get its highly anticipated human moon mission known asArtemis 2 back on track.
The mission, the first to send astronauts near the moon in more than half a century, was meant to get off the ground earlier in February. That was before NASA's ground teams encountered a liquid hydrogen leakwith the towering Space Launch System rocketdesigned to propel the crew of astronauts on their way.
Now, it'll be take two for NASA as thespaceagency eyes another critical fueling test known as a wet dress rehearsal. The next prelaunch test, designed to assess whether the rocket is ready for flight, would come more than two weeks after the lastlaunch day rehearsal ended earlyand exposed issues with the SLS.
As of now, NASA is still hoping to launch the Artemis 2 mission at the beginning of March – sending three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day trip around the moon in the first crewed venture under the agency's multibillion-dollar program.
The crew of Artemis II (from left: Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman) answer questions at a press conference as their Space Launch System rocket is transported to Pad 39B January 17, 2026. Artemis II is tentatively scheduled to launch on a mission to th Moon in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
NASA's Artemis 2 mission to fly 4 astronauts around moon. Photos of crew
Here's what to knowabout the next wet dress rehearsal scheduled ahead of a potential Artemis 2 rocket launch.
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When is the Artemis launch date? Moon mission delayed until March
Originally slated for liftoff in February, NASA officials have delayed the Artemis 2 moon launch to March from the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. Under NASA's current timeline, the earliest the mission could get off the ground is March 6.
NASA has not yet announced an official launch date. The agency, though, said in itsmost recent blog postthat it found an additional day in the first week of March that would be suitable for a launch opportunity.
While NASA did not specify the new date, the previously announced Artemis 2 launch window in March included March 6-9 and March 11.
NASA schedules next prelaunch test for SLS rocket
Committing to a new launch datewon't happen until NASA conducts another wet dress rehearsal and completes a prelaunch analysis known as a flight readiness review.
The next wet dress rehearsal, a test designed to mimic a launch, is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, NASA announced. During the test, teams will run through the full range of operations that would take place on launch day, including loading the SLS rocket with 700,000 gallons cryogenic liquid propellant that is later drained and conducting a mock countdown.
Launch controllers are due to arrive at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the control center to begin the nearly 50-hour countdown to the four-hour rehearsal itself, according to NASA. The simulated launch is then targeted for 8:30 p.m. ET, Feb. 19.
The impending test comes after teams replaced a filter in ground support equipment during the weekend that was suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen during another Feb. 12 test to partially fuel the rocket.
Why did NASA delay Artemis 2 mission? Hydrogen leak in SLS
The mission slipped at least a month after NASAconducted an initial wet dress rehearsalat the beginning of February that uncovered issues with the massive322-foot Space Launch System rocket.
NASA's elaborate launch day rehearsal ended with the discovery of a hydrogen leak within the rocket's 212-footcore stage.
Who will be on the Artemis 2 mission? Astronauts leave quarantine
The crew of Artemis II (from left: Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman) answer questions at a press conference as their Space Launch System rocket is transported to Pad 39B January 17, 2026. Artemis II is tentatively scheduled to launch on a mission to th Moon in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NASA's Artemis 2 mission to fly 4 astronauts around moon. Photos of crew
Thecrewof Artemis 2 includes three Americans and one Canadian. NASA astronautsReid Wiseman,Victor GloverandChristina Koch, as well as the Canadian Space Agency'sJeremy Hansen,had entered quarantineJan. 21 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to avoid exposure to illnesses ahead of the launch.
Delaying the mission until March meansthe astronauts have exited quarantineat the Johnson Space Center in Houston, which is protocol ahead of spaceflights to ensure crews avoid exposure to illnesses. They will re-enter quarantine about two weeks ahead of the next launch opportunity before flying to the Kennedy Space Center.
What is the Artemis mission?
NASA'sArtemis programis the agency's ambitious campaign to return Americans to the surface of the moon for thefirst time since the Apollo era came to an end in 1972.
The Artemis 2 astronauts won't be landing, but will instead circle the moon on a 10-day trip to test systems and hardware for future expeditions to the surface. The Orion capsule the crew will pilot – built by Lockheed Martin – is due to travel about 4,700 miles beyond the far side of the moon, taking its passengers the farthest humans have ever ventured in space before returning to Earth.
The mission would come more than three years after Artemis 1 launched Nov. 16, 2022, from the Kennedy Space Center, sending the Orion capsule on a moon-orbiting mission without a crew in the first test of the vehicle.
A moon landing would take place during Artemis 3, which PresidentDonald Trumphas signaled he wants to see happen before the end of his second term.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Artemis 2 faces next rocket fueling test ahead of potential launch
