The Second SLS Wet Dress Rehearsal Went As Planned Today!

NASA / Ben Smegelsky

NASA Begins Artemis II Launch Pad Ops After Successful Fuel Test (News Release)

NASA successfully fueled its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and demonstrated the launch countdown for Artemis II on Thursday during a wet dress rehearsal at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Engineers loaded more than 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant into the rocket, sent a closeout crew to the launch pad to demonstrate closing the Orion spacecraft’s hatches, and completed two runs of terminal count — the final phase of the launch countdown. The Artemis II crew also observed part of the test from the Launch Control Center at NASA Kennedy.

During the test, teams closely monitored liquid hydrogen fueling operations, which proved challenging during previous tests. Hydrogen gas concentrations remained under allowable limits, giving engineers confidence in new seals installed in an interface used to route fuel to the rocket.

Early in fueling operations, teams experienced a loss of ground communications in the Launch Control Center. Operators temporarily moved to backup communication methods to maintain safe propellant loading activities before normal communications channels were restored. Engineers isolated the equipment that caused the issue.

A rundown of wet dress rehearsal operations is available on the Artemis blog.

While engineers review data from the test, the Artemis II crew is preparing to enter quarantine late Friday, February 20, in Houston. Although NASA has not set a formal launch date, beginning the roughly 14-day quarantine to limit the crew’s exposure to illness before launch preserves flexibility in the March launch window.

NASA will discuss the wet dress rehearsal during a news conference at 11 a.m. EST Friday on the agency’s YouTube channel.

Over the next several days, technicians will use cranes to set up temporary access platforms on the Mobile Launcher. The platforms will allow them to reach the upper left and right segments of the SLS solid rocket boosters and core stage intertank to service the flight termination system and retest it to meet Eastern Range safety requirements. The platforms were developed based on lessons learned during Artemis I and enable NASA to complete end-to-end testing of the safety system while at the launch pad rather than rolling back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA Kennedy for retesting.

The closeout crew will also practice closeout operations once more, adding to the team’s proficiency.

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, Artemis will pave the way for new U.S. crewed missions on the lunar surface in preparation to send the first astronauts to Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

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The second terminal count in the WDR appeared to be a success!

If so, this concludes a fueling test that will hopefully pave the way for an official launch date of Artemis II in the coming week. pic.twitter.com/I0elNtai0e

— Rich Par (@AstroPnoy) February 20, 2026

The Next SLS Fueling Test Is Underway...

NASA / Ben Smegelsky

Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Countdown Begins (News Release)

The countdown for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is underway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The countdown clock began at 6:50 p.m. EST Tuesday, or L-49 hours, 40 minutes before the opening of a simulated launch window at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, February 19. The test is expected to go until approximately 12:30 a.m., Friday, February 20.

The test will run the launch team, as well as supporting teams in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and other supporting NASA centers, through a full range of operations, including loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s tanks, conducting a launch countdown, demonstrating the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and draining the tanks to practice scrub procedures. These steps ensure that the team is fully prepared for launch day.

In parallel, teams are preparing to install temporary platforms onto the Mobile Launcher after a successful wet dress rehearsal and are staging associated equipment near the launch pad. The platforms will allow technicians to service flight termination system elements in the upper left and right segments of the solid rocket boosters and core stage intertank for required testing of the system to meet Eastern Range safety requirements ahead of a potential March launch opportunity.

A 24/7 live stream of the rocket at the pad continues online. NASA will provide a separate feed capturing tanking activities, and NASA will provide real-time blog post updates regarding the test during the fueling day.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Second Big Fueling Test for SLS Has Been Scheduled for this Thursday...

NASA / Ben Smegelsky

NASA Eyes Next Wet Dress Rehearsal for Artemis II (News Release)

NASA is targeting Thursday, February 19, as the tanking day for the second wet dress rehearsal ahead of the agency’s Artemis II test flight.

Over the weekend, teams replaced a filter in ground support equipment that was suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen during a February 12 partial fueling test. The test provided enough data to allow engineers to plan towards a second wet dress rehearsal this week. Engineers have reconnected the line with the new filter and are reestablishing proper environmental conditions.

The wet dress rehearsal will run the launch team as well as supporting teams through a full range of operations, including loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s tanks, conducting a launch countdown, demonstrating the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and draining the tanks to practice scrub procedures.

Launch controllers will arrive to their consoles in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:40 p.m. EST on February 17 to begin the nearly 50-hour countdown. The simulated launch time is 8:30 p.m. on February 19, with a four-hour window for the test. While the Artemis II crew is not participating in the test, a team of personnel will go to the launch pad to practice Orion closeout operations, including closing the spacecraft’s hatches.

During the rehearsal, the team will execute a detailed countdown sequence. Operators will conduct two runs of the last ten minutes of the countdown, known as terminal count. They will pause at T-1 minute and 30 seconds for up to three minutes, then resume until T-33 seconds before launch and pause again.

After the pause, the team will recycle the clock back to T-10 minutes and conduct a second terminal countdown to just inside of T-30 seconds before ending the sequence. This process simulates real-world conditions, including scenarios where a launch might be scrubbed due to technical or weather issues.

While NASA will not set a formal launch date until after a successful rehearsal and data reviews, the agency has been evaluating in recent weeks if there are additional days that would be suitable for launch and found an extra opportunity during the first week of March. However, managers have determined that March 6 is the earliest opportunity for launch that allows for a second wet dress rehearsal, sufficient time for data review, and time to transition the launch pad, rocket and spacecraft to launch operations.

A 24/7 live stream of the rocket at the pad remains online. During the upcoming wet dress rehearsal, NASA will provide a separate feed with additional camera views on the day of fueling and share updates via the agency’s Artemis blog.

Source: NASA.Gov

A Fueling Test Was Conducted Before the Next Big Fueling Test for the Second SLS Flight...

NASA / John Kraus

Following Confidence Test, NASA Continues Artemis II Data Review (News Release - February 13)

As part of robustly testing the vehicle prior to flight, NASA engineers are reviewing data after a confidence test February 12, in which operators partially filled the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage liquid hydrogen tank to assess newly-replaced seals in an area used to fill the rocket with propellant.

During the test, teams encountered an issue with ground support equipment that reduced the flow of liquid hydrogen into the rocket. Teams were able to gain confidence in several key objectives of the test, and data was obtained at the core stage interfaces, taken at the same time in the test where they encountered a leak during the previous wet dress rehearsal. Engineers will purge the line over the weekend to ensure proper environmental conditions and inspect the ground support equipment before replacing a filter suspected to be the cause of the reduced flow.

Engineers will examine findings before setting a timeline for the next test, a second wet dress rehearsal this month. March remains the earliest potential launch window for Artemis II.

Source: NASA.Gov

Freedom Has Arrived at the ISS...

NASA+

Dragon Hatches Open, Crew-12 Enters Station and Joins Expedition 74 (News Release)

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev have entered the International Space Station after opening the hatches at 5:14 p.m. EST between the space station and SpaceX's Dragon Freedom spacecraft.

Meir, Hathaway, Adenot and Fedyaev now join the Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev already aboard the orbiting laboratory.

NASA’s live coverage continues through the welcome ceremony on NASA+, Amazon Prime and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA+

Freedom Is Once Again Bound for the ISS...

SpaceX

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to International Space Station (News Release)

Four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon Freedom spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 14.

“With Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation and teamwork required for human spaceflight,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “The research this crew will conduct aboard the space station advances critical technologies for deep space exploration while delivering real benefits here on Earth. I’m grateful to the NASA and SpaceX teams whose discipline, rigor and resilience made today’s launch possible. We undertake these missions with a clear understanding of risk, managing it responsibly so we can continue expanding human presence in low-Earth orbit while preparing for our next great leap to the Moon and onward to Mars.”

During Dragon’s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA’s live coverage resumes at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on NASA+, Amazon Prime and the agency’s YouTube channel with rendezvous, docking and hatch opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station’s Harmony module around 5 p.m. NASA will also provide coverage of the welcome ceremony aboard the space station shortly following hatch opening.

Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Meir, Hathaway, Adenot and Fedyaev will join the Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev already aboard the orbiting laboratory, returning the space station to its standard seven crew members complement following the January 14 departure of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission.

During its mission, Crew-12 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will study pneumonia-causing bacteria to improve cardiovascular treatments, on-demand intravenous fluid generation for future space missions, and research on how physical characteristics may affect blood flow during spaceflight. Other experiments include automated plant health monitoring and investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions to enhance food production in space.

Crew-12 is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development, and supporting future missions beyond low-Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Source: NASA.Gov

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SpaceX

A Commercial Company Other Than Axiom Space Will Send a Crew to the ISS...

NASA

Vast Selected by NASA for Sixth Private Astronaut Mission to International Space Station (Press Release)

Vast, the company developing next-generation space stations, has signed an order with NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. It is Vast’s first private astronaut mission to the space station in partnership with NASA.

“Vast is honored to have been selected by NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “Leveraging the remaining life of the International Space Station with science and research-led commercial crewed missions is a critical part of the transition to commercial space stations and fully unlocking the orbital economy.”

The Vast private astronaut mission crew is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the space station. A specific launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic at the orbital outpost and other planning considerations. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew on a Dragon spacecraft to the space station as previously announced.

The mission will generate invaluable insights into the infrastructure and processes required for Vast to safely accomplish human spaceflight missions. The mission supports deeper collaboration with NASA and international space agencies in addition to strengthening Vast’s position as a candidate to deliver its proposed successor to the space station, the multi-module, continuously-crewed Haven-2.

Vast is planning a robust science and research portfolio with a focus on biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, human research, and technology demonstrations for the mission. Last year, Vast announced a call for research proposals for a potential PAM mission. In addition, Vast’s current agreement with CASIS will enable increased throughput of high-quality science that aligns with its science strategy.

Source: VastSpace.com

The Latest Update on the Next Wet Dress Rehearsal for the Second SLS Flight...

NASA / John Kraus

NASA Conducts Repairs, Analysis Ahead of Next Artemis II Fueling Test (News Release)

Since concluding a wet dress rehearsal on February 3 ahead of Artemis II, technicians have replaced two seals in an area where operators saw higher-than-allowable hydrogen gas concentrations during the test. Engineers are analyzing the removed seals and developing plans to address all issues ahead of the next rehearsal.

Once the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s tanks were drained of cryogenic propellant following the previous test, technicians immediately began work to access the tail service mast umbilical on the Mobile Launcher and detach rocket and ground-side interface plates to inspect the area of the elevated gas levels, and replace seals around two fueling lines.

Two tail service masts, each about three stories tall, provide cryogenic propellant lines and electrical cable connections to the SLS core stage. The tail service masts tilt back before launch and include “quick disconnects,” mechanisms that instantaneously disconnect at liftoff to ensure a safe and reliable retraction at launch.

While teams continue evaluating the cause of the leak, reconnecting the interfaces is expected to be completed on Monday, February 9. Testing is planned to occur at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to evaluate additional dynamics of the plates. Engineers are reviewing options to test the repair work prior to the next wet dress rehearsal to ensure that the seals are performing as expected.

NASA will also update several operations for the next wet dress rehearsal to focus on fueling activities. The Orion crew module hatch will be closed prior to the test, and the closeout crew responsible on launch day for assisting the Artemis II crew into their seats and closing Orion’s two hatches will not be deployed to the launch pad. The crew access arm will not be retracted during the next rehearsal, after engineers successfully demonstrated that the ground launch sequencer can retract it during the final phase of the countdown.

Additionally, NASA has added 30 minutes of extra time during each of two planned holds in the countdown before and after tanking operations to allow more time for troubleshooting, increasing the total time of the countdown by one hour. The additional time will not affect the crew’s timeline on launch day.

Since emerging from quarantine, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, have continued training activities, ensuring that their familiarity with Orion spacecraft systems is second nature. The astronauts have also been reviewing the details of each flight day for the mission, bolstering their knowledge of test objectives planned during the flight.

While NASA continues to eye March as the next potential launch opportunity, the agency will not set a targeted launch date until after completing a successful wet dress rehearsal and reviewing the data.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Did you know...

...that the @NASAArtemis II Moon rocket is 322 feet tall? That’s just a few yards shy of the length of a football field.

Bet you thought we were going to say something else about #SBLX. 😉 pic.twitter.com/xPj2uNlGWf

— NASA (@NASA) February 8, 2026

The Latest Update on Humanity's First Orbital Moon Outpost...

Lanteris Space Systems

Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element Undergoes Battery Installations (Photo Release)

Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) undergoes battery installations at Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California, in January 2026.

PPE is a 60-kilowatt solar electric propulsion spacecraft that will supply the lunar space station with power, high-rate communications, attitude control, orbit maintenance, and orbit transfer capabilities.

The PPE's design is based on Lanteris Space Systems’ commercial 1300 bus, enhanced with the most powerful Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) thrusters and the largest roll-out solar arrays (ROSAs) ever developed.

Lanteris Space Systems is the lead industry partner for PPE’s design, manufacturing and integration.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Lanteris Space Systems


Lanteris Space Systems


Lanteris Space Systems

The Second Flight of SLS Is Now Scheduled for Next Month...

NASA / John Kraus

NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity (News Release)

NASA concluded a wet dress rehearsal for the agency’s Artemis II test flight early Tuesday morning, successfully loading cryogenic propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) tanks, sending a team out to the launch pad to close out Orion, and safely draining the rocket. The wet dress rehearsal was a prelaunch test to fuel the rocket, designed to identify any issues and resolve them before attempting a launch.

Engineers pushed through several challenges during the two-day test and met many of the planned objectives. To allow teams to review data and conduct a second wet dress rehearsal, NASA will now target March as the earliest possible launch opportunity for the flight test.

Moving off a February launch window also means that the Artemis II astronauts will be released from quarantine, which they entered in Houston on January 21. As a result, they will not travel to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday as tentatively planned. The crew will enter quarantine again about two weeks out from the next targeted launch opportunity.

NASA began the approximately 49-hour countdown at 8:13 p.m. EST on January 31. Leading up to, and throughout tanking operations on February 2, engineers monitored how cold weather at Kennedy impacted systems and put procedures in place to keep the hardware safe. Cold temperatures caused a late start to tanking operations, as it took time to bring some interfaces to acceptable temperatures before propellant-loading operations began.

During tanking, engineers spent several hours troubleshooting a liquid hydrogen leak in an interface used to route the cryogenic propellant into the rocket’s core stage, putting them behind in the countdown. Attempts to resolve the issue involved stopping the flow of liquid hydrogen into the core stage, allowing the interface to warm up for the seals to reseat, and adjusting the flow of the propellant.

Teams successfully filled all tanks in both the core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage before a team of five was sent to the launch pad to finish Orion closeout operations. Engineers conducted a first run at terminal countdown operations during the test, counting down to approximately 5 minutes left in the countdown, before the ground launch sequencer automatically stopped the countdown due to a spike in the liquid hydrogen leak rate.

In addition to the liquid hydrogen leak, a valve associated with Orion crew module hatch pressurization, which recently was replaced, required retorquing, and closeout operations took longer than planned. Cold weather that affected several cameras and other equipment didn’t impede wet dress rehearsal activities, but would have required additional attention on launch day. Finally, engineers have been troubleshooting dropouts of audio communication channels across ground teams in the past few weeks leading up to the test.

Several dropouts reoccurred during the wet dress rehearsal.

The team carried out updated procedures to purge the Orion service module’s cavities with breathing air during closeout crew operations rather than gaseous nitrogen to ensure that the team assisting the crew into their seats and closing Orion’s hatches can safely operate in the White Room.

With March as the potential launch window, teams will fully review data from the test, mitigate each issue, and return to testing ahead of setting an official target launch date.

Crew safety will remain the highest priority, ensuring that NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, return home at the end of their mission.

Source: NASA.Gov