Artemis Update: The Lunar Gateway Has Been Shelved in Favor of a Moon Base, While a Nuclear-powered Mission Heads to Mars in 2028...

NASA

NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy (News Release)

As part of its Ignition event on Tuesday, NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve the president's National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space. These actions reflect the urgency of the moment, but also the tremendous opportunity ahead for world-changing science and discovery.

“NASA is committed to achieving the near‑impossible once again, to build a Moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership in space. This is why it is essential we leave an event like Ignition with complete alignment on the national imperative that is our collective mission. The clock is running in this great‑power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

“If we concentrate NASA’s extraordinary resources on the objectives of the National Space Policy, clear away needless obstacles that impede progress, and unleash the workforce and industrial might of our nation and partners, then returning to the Moon and building a base will seem pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead.”

NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said, “Today we are aligning NASA around the mission. On the Moon, we are shifting to a focused, phased architecture that builds capability landing by landing, incrementally, and in alignment with our industrial and international partners. In low-Earth orbit (LEO), we are recognizing where the market is and where it isn’t, recognizing the incredible value of the International Space Station, and building a transition that builds a competitive commercial ecosystem rather than forcing a single outcome the market cannot support.

"In our science missions, we are opening the lunar surface to researchers and students nationwide, and with Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, we are finally putting nuclear propulsion on a trajectory out of the laboratory and into deep space. And this is all possible by investing in our people, bringing critical skills back into the agency, putting our teams where the machines are being built, and creating real pathways for the next generation of NASA leaders. Our workforce is the jewel of NASA, and from their leaders, they need clear mission goals, the tools to execute, and to get out of their way. This is what Ignition is about.”

Going back to the Moon

The announcements build on recent updates to the Artemis program, including standardizing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter. Under this previously updated architecture, Artemis III – scheduled for 2027 – will focus on testing integrated systems and operational capabilities in Earth orbit in advance of the Artemis IV lunar landing.

Looking beyond Artemis V, NASA announced on March 24 that it will begin to incorporate more commercially-procured and reusable hardware to undertake frequent and affordable crewed missions to the lunar surface, initially targeting landings every six months, with the potential to increase cadence as capabilities mature.

To achieve an enduring human presence on the Moon, NASA also announced a phased approach to building a lunar base. As part of this strategy, the agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations. Despite challenges with some existing hardware, the agency will repurpose applicable equipment and leverage international partner commitments to support these objectives.

In the coming days, NASA will release Requests for Information (RFIs) and draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to ensure continued progress in meeting national objectives.

Building the Moon Base

NASA’s plan for establishing a sustained lunar presence will roll out in three deliberate phases.

-- Phase One: Build, Test, Learn
NASA shifts from bespoke, infrequent missions to a repeatable, modular approach. Through CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) deliveries and the LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) program, the agency will increase the tempo of lunar activity, sending rovers, instruments and technology demonstrations that advance mobility, power generation (including radioisotope heater units and radioisotope thermoelectric generators), communications, navigation, surface operations, and a wide range of scientific investigations.

-- Phase Two: Establish Early Infrastructure
With lessons from early missions in hand, NASA moves toward semi‑habitable infrastructure and regular logistics. This phase supports recurring astronaut operations on the surface and incorporates major international contributions, including JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) pressurized rover, and potentially other partner scientific payloads, rovers, and infrastructure/transportation capabilities.

--Phase Three: Enable Long‑Duration Human Presence
As cargo‑capable Human Landing Systems (HLS) come online, NASA will deliver heavier infrastructure needed for a continuous human foothold on the Moon, marking the transition from periodic expeditions to a permanent lunar base. This will include ASI’s (Italian Space Agency) Multi-purpose Habitats (MPH), CSA’s (Canadian Space Agency) Lunar Utility Vehicle, and opportunities for additional contributions in habitation, surface mobility and logistics.

Ensuring American presence in low-Earth orbit

While building a sustainable lunar architecture, NASA is also reaffirming its commitment to low-Earth orbit. For more than two decades, the International Space Station has served as a world‑class orbital laboratory, enabling more than 4,000 research investigations, supporting more than 5,000 researchers, and hosting visitors from 26 countries. The space station required 37 shuttle flights, 160 spacewalks, two decades, and more than $100 billion to design, develop and build.

The orbital laboratory cannot operate indefinitely. The transition to commercial stations must be thoughtful, deliberate and structured to support long‑term industry success.

NASA is introducing and seeking industry feedback on an additional LEO strategy that preserves all current pathways while adding a phased, International Space Station‑anchored approach to avoid any gap in U.S. human presence and mature a robust commercial ecosystem. Under this alternative approach, NASA would procure a government‑owned Core Module that attaches to the space station, followed by commercial modules that are validated using International Space Station capabilities and later detach into free flight. After maturing technical and operational capabilities and market demand is realized, the stations would detach and NASA would be one of many customers purchasing commercial services.

To stimulate the orbital economy, NASA would expand industry opportunities, including private astronaut missions, commander seat sales, joint missions, multiple module competitions, and prize‑based awards.

An industry RFI opens on Wednesday, March 25, to inform partnership structures, financing, and risk mitigation.

Advancing world-changing discovery with current, developing science missions

In a Golden Age of exploration and discovery, NASA takes full advantage of every opportunity to get science into space. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to transform our understanding of the early Universe, Parker Solar Probe has flown through the atmosphere of the Sun, NASA has shown that it can defend the planet by deflecting asteroids, and Earth science data is used extensively by American companies, U.S. agriculture, and disaster relief. On the International Space Station, NASA is conducting groundbreaking experiments in quantum science.

Future opportunities will advance U.S. leadership in space science. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching as early as this fall, will advance our understanding of dark energy, and has created a new standard for the management of large science missions. Dragonfly will launch a nuclear-powered octocopter in 2028, arriving at Saturn’s moon Titan in 2034 to explore its complex, organic-rich environment.

In 2028, NASA will launch and deliver ESA’s (European Space Agency) Rosalind Franklin Rover to Mars, with NASA’s contributed mass spectrometer for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument, which may result in the most advanced detection and analysis of organic matter ever conducted on Mars. A new Earth science mission launching next year will measure for the first time the evolution of the dynamics within convective storms to improve the prediction of extreme weather events up to six hours before the storm occurs.

The agency detailed how advancements in lunar science will also be afforded by the build out of the Moon Base and underpin future Moon and Mars exploration. With an accelerated CLPS cadence, targeting up to 30 robotic landings starting in 2027, NASA is expediting delivery of science and technology to the lunar surface. There will be many opportunities for payload delivery including rovers, hoppers and drones with contributions welcomed from industry, academia and international partners.

Near-term payloads include the VIPER rover and the LuSEE‑Night mission. An RFI will be released on March 24 that calls for payloads capable of supporting NASA’s science and technology goals for additional 2027 and 2028 flights. It will enable students and researchers across the country to work on scientific instruments for use on the surface of the Moon in the years ahead.

This RFI will also solicit payloads incorporated on future missions to Mars including the Mars Telecom Network (MTN) and a nuclear technology demonstration mission.

The agency intends to partner with philanthropic and privately-funded research organizations with shared objectives in space science.

Other RFIs released on March 24 will strengthen “Science as a Service” partnerships and commercial capabilities, allowing NASA to streamline legacy operations and focus investment on the transformational missions that only the agency can lead.

Finally, NASA will unveil a previously unseen pair of images from the James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes. These images show the planet Saturn in unprecedented detail in both infrared and visible wavelengths.

America underway on nuclear power in space

In addition to these scientific missions, after decades of study and in response to the National Space Policy, NASA announced a major step forward in bringing nuclear power and propulsion from the lab to space.

NASA will launch the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, to Mars before the end of 2028, demonstrating advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. Nuclear electric propulsion provides an extraordinary capability for efficient mass transport in deep space and enables high power missions beyond Jupiter where solar arrays are not effective.

When SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it will deploy the Skyfall payload of Ingenuity‑class helicopters to continue exploring the Red Planet. SR-1 Freedom will establish flight heritage nuclear hardware, set regulatory and launch precedent, and activate the industrial base for future fission power systems across propulsion, surface, and long‑duration missions. NASA and its U.S. Department of Energy partner will unlock the capabilities required for sustained exploration beyond the Moon and eventual journeys to Mars and the outer Solar System.

None of these endeavors can succeed without the NASA workforce. As previously announced, the agency is rebuilding its core competencies, converting thousands of contractor positions to civil service, and restoring the engineering, technical and operational strengths expected of the world’s premier space organization.

NASA is expanding opportunities for interns and early‑career professionals and, in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and NASA Force, is creating new pathways for experienced industry talent to serve through term‑based appointments. The agency is also seeking to open opportunities for NASA employees to gain valuable experience working within the most technologically-advanced space industry in history.

The changes announced on March 24 will be implemented during the coming months, with teams agencywide ensuring a smooth transition while advancing key programs and partnerships.

NASA will embed subject‑matter experts across the supply chain – at every major vendor, subcontractor and critical‑path component – to challenge assumptions, solve problems, accelerate production, and help ensure that the right outcomes are achieved.

Through these reforms, NASA is strengthening its ability to deliver on the president’s National Space Policy and ensure continued American superiority in space.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA

.@NASAMoonBase has landed on X. Join us as we explore, innovate, and build a sustained human presence on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/qNgYX8cJWU

— NASA (@NASA) March 24, 2026

SLS Has Returned to its Pad for a Flight Attempt on April 1...

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

NASA’s Artemis II Rocket Arrives at Launch Complex 39B (News Release)

At 11:21 a.m. EDT on Friday, March 20, NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Launch Complex (LC)-39B after an 11-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2 began its 4-mile trek with the integrated SLS and Orion stacked on top of the Mobile Launcher at 12:20 a.m. EDT. Moving at a maximum speed of just 0.82 mph, the crawler carried the 322-foot-tall Moon rocket and spacecraft slowly and steadily toward the pad.

Now that the rocket is at LC-39B, NASA teams are gearing up for the final stretch of prelaunch preparations ahead of launch as soon as Wednesday, April 1. The early April launch window includes opportunities through Monday, April 6.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch of NASA, along with CSA’s (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen will embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, Artemis II is another step towards new U.S.-crewed missions to the Moon’s surface, leading to a sustained presence on the Moon that will help the agency prepare to send astronauts to Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

SLS Is on its Way Back to LC-39B...

NASA / Joel Kowsky

Artemis II Moon Rocket Heads Back to Launch Pad (News Release)

NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft slated to send four astronauts around the Moon began rolling to Launch Complex 39B at 12:20 a.m. EDT on Friday, March 20. Rollout operations at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida were delayed earlier in the day due to high winds in the area.

The trek to the pad is expected to take up to 12 hours, as NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2 carefully carries the rocket on top of the Mobile Launcher approximately 4 miles along the crawlerway. A live feed of the rollout is available on NASA’s YouTube channel.

Following a successful wet dress rehearsal on February 21, teams identified an issue preventing helium from flowing to the rocket’s upper stage, prompting a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) where the issue was repaired.

While the rocket and spacecraft were in the VAB, engineers also refreshed and retested several systems on the rocket. Engineers activated a new set of flight termination system batteries, replaced other batteries on the upper stage, core stage, and solid rocket boosters, and charged Orion’s launch abort system batteries. Engineers also replaced a seal on the core stage liquid oxygen feed line and reassembled and retested the oxygen tail service mast umbilical plate to confirm a tight seal interface.

Artemis II will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on an approximately 10-day mission around the Moon and back, marking the first crewed flight of the Artemis program.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Joel Kowsky

SLS Will Return to the Pad a Week from Today for its Second Moon Mission Next Month!

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Artemis II Flight Readiness Polls Go to Proceed Toward April Launch (News Release)

NASA completed the agency’s Artemis II Flight Readiness Review on Thursday, March 12, and polled “go” to proceed towards launch. NASA is targeting Thursday, March 19, to roll the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B in advance of a launch attempt on Wednesday, April 1, pending closeout of remaining open work.

Agency leaders provided updates about the outcome of the readiness review in a news conference.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA

The Latest Update on the Next Flight of SLS, as Well as the Moon Rockets for Artemis 4 and Beyond...

NASA / Reid Wiseman

NASA to Share Artemis II Flight Readiness Review Update (News Release)

NASA will host a news conference at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 12, to highlight progress towards the Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon. The media briefing will take place from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the conclusion of an Artemis II Flight Readiness Review.

The news conference will stream live on the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media, as available.

NASA participants include:

-- Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
-- John Honeycutt, chair, Artemis II Mission Management Team
-- Shawn Quinn, manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program
-- Norm Knight, director, Flight Operations Directorate

This event is open in-person for media previously credentialed at NASA Kennedy for the Artemis II launch. To participate virtually, media must RSVP for call details no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the event to the newsroom at NASA Kennedy: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov. NASA’s media credentialing policy is online.

NASA is continuing work on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in NASA Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building before a second rollout to the launch pad later this month ahead of a potential launch in April.

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA selects Centaur for new SLS upper stage https://t.co/Oukev31R9S pic.twitter.com/Uo45P9EWIw

— SpaceNews (@SpaceNews_Inc) March 6, 2026

On Friday afternoon, a new contract was published that confirms NASA's selection of @ulalaunch Vulcan upper stage, the Centaur V, as the new upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket beginning with the Artemis IV mission.

Document: https://t.co/LvsPpzBVs3 pic.twitter.com/Y0RapZFgVc

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) March 6, 2026

The HTV-X1 Is Now Flying Freely in Low-Earth Orbit...

NASA

Canadian Robotic Arm Releases Japan’s Spacecraft for Departure (News Release)

At 12 p.m. EST, JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s) HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft was released from the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, which earlier detached it from the Earth-facing port of the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module. At the time of release, the station was flying about 260 miles over the Pacific Ocean.

The HTV-X1 spacecraft successfully departed the station more than four months after arriving to deliver over 9,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, commercial products, hardware and other cargo for NASA and its international partners.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA+

Japan's Newest Space Freighter Is Ready to Depart from the ISS...

NASA

Canadarm2 Grips Cargo Spacecraft, Spacewalk Prep and Biology Continue (News Release)

A JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) cargo spacecraft is in the grasp of the Canadarm2 robotic arm following its detachment from the International Space Station’s Harmony module on Thursday. The Expedition 74 crew continued its spacewalk preparations, transferred more cargo, and conducted biology research throughout the day.

The HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft was uninstalled from Harmony with Canadarm2 at 2:26 p.m. EST on Thursday and maneuvered to an overnight parking position. During the crew’s sleep shift, Japanese mission controllers will conduct a laser-ranging sensor demonstration test with HTV-X1 still held by the robotic arm.

Then at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, robotics controllers will command the Canadarm2 to release HTV-X1 into Earth orbit. The spacecraft will remain at a safe distance from the station for approximately three months while conducting a series of remotely-controlled science experiments. NASA will broadcast the release live, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Friday on NASA+, Amazon Prime and the agency’s YouTube channel.

While robotic operations continued outside the space station, the astronauts pressed ahead with spacewalk preparations. NASA flight engineers Jessica Meir, Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway gathered together and reviewed the tools and equipment required to install a modification kit and route cables for a future roll-out solar array on the port side of the orbital outpost. NASA will soon announce the date and name the two spacewalkers who will exit the station’s Quest airlock into the vacuum of space for the roll-out solar array preparation work.

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot began her shift packing cargo for disposal inside Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft attached to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port. Cygnus will conclude its mission soon at the orbital outpost that began on September 18 with its robotic capture and installation to Unity. Adenot also worked in the Kibo laboratory module removing computer and electronics hardware for stowage and later reuse.

Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev teamed up early Thursday for a Roscosmos digestion study. Shortly after waking, the duo scanned their stomachs with an ultrasound device before eating their breakfast. After their meal, the station commander and flight engineer repeated the stomach scans helping researchers understand how the digestive system adapts to weightlessness.

Flight Engineer Andrey Fedyaev kicked off his shift servicing the Elektron oxygen generator and its components in the station’s Roscosmos segment. Fedyaev then inspected video recording gear, downloaded video and imagery for mission controllers, and installed automated Earth observation hardware to capture imagery of islands across the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Latest Update on Artemis 2 as It Gears Up for a Potential Launch Next Month...

NASA / Kim Shiflett

NASA Repairs Upper Stage Helium Flow, Preps Continue Ahead of Rollout (News Release)

With NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians have accessed the launch vehicle stage adapter to inspect components that prevented helium from flowing to the upper stage after a February 21 wet dress rehearsal.

Engineers determined that a seal in the quick disconnect, through which helium flows from the ground systems to the rocket, was obstructing the pathway. The team removed the quick disconnect, reassembled the system, and began validating the repairs to the upper stage by running a reduced flow rate of helium through the mechanism to ensure that the issue was resolved. Engineers are assessing what allowed the seal to become dislodged to prevent the issue from recurring.

While the upper stage repair has been underway, technicians have also been working to refresh other systems on the rocket. They are activating a new set of flight termination system batteries ahead of end-to-end retesting of the system and are also replacing the flight batteries on the upper stage, core stage, and solid rocket boosters, and charging the Orion launch abort system batteries. Work to replace a seal on the core stage liquid oxygen line feed system began on March 2.

Once complete, teams will reassemble the oxygen tail service mast umbilical plate and perform various integrity tests to ensure that the seal interface is tight.

Work on the rocket and spacecraft will continue in the coming weeks as NASA prepares for rolling the rocket out to the launch pad again later this month ahead of a potential launch in April.

Source: NASA.Gov

America's Plan to Return Humans to the Moon Has Changed...

NASA

NASA Adds Mission to Artemis Lunar Program, Updates Architecture (News Release)

As part of a Golden Age of exploration and discovery, NASA announced on Friday that the agency is increasing its cadence of missions under the Artemis program to achieve the national objective of returning American astronauts to the Moon and establishing an enduring presence. This includes standardizing vehicle configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter.

As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, the Artemis III mission, now in 2027, will be designed to test out systems and operational capabilities in low-Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028. This new mission will endeavor to include a rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, in-space tests of the docked vehicles, integrated checkout of life support, communications and propulsion systems, as well as tests of the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits. NASA will further define this test flight after completing detailed reviews between NASA and our industry partners.

The agency will share the specific objectives for the updated Artemis III mission in the near future.

NASA’s recently announced workforce directive is a key factor in enabling this acceleration. NASA will rebuild core competencies in the civil servant workforce including more in-house and side-by-side development work with our Artemis partners, enabling a safer, more reliable, and faster launch cadence.

“NASA must standardize its approach, increase flight rate safely, and execute on the President’s national space policy. With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Standardizing vehicle configuration, increasing flight rate and progressing through objectives in a logical, phased approach, is how we achieved the near-impossible in 1969 and it is how we will do it again.”

“After successful completion of the Artemis I flight test, the upcoming Artemis II flight test, and the new, more robust test approach to Artemis III, it is needlessly complicated to alter the configuration of the SLS and Orion stack to undertake subsequent Artemis missions,” said NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya. “There is too much learning left on the table and too much development and production risk in front of us. Instead, we want to keep testing like we fly and have flown. We are looking back to the wisdom of the folks that designed Apollo.

"The entire sequence of Artemis flights needs to represent a step-by-step build-up of capability, with each step bringing us closer to our ability to perform the landing missions. Each step needs to be big enough to make progress, but not so big that we take unnecessary risk given previous learnings. Therefore, we want to fly the landing missions in as close to the same Earth ascent configuration as possible – this means using an upper stage and pad systems in as close to the ‘Block 1’ configuration as possible.

"We will work with our partners that have been developing the evolved block configuration of these systems to take proper actions to align their efforts towards this goal and announce the details of those changes once they are finalized. We will take a similar approach to in-space, landing and surface EVA operations as well, as we evolve the mission sequence in the spirit of the Apollo mindset, which was obsessed with system reliability and crew safety as the keys to mission success.”

“Boeing is a proud partner to the Artemis mission and our team is honored to contribute to NASA’s vision for American space leadership,” said Steve Parker, Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and CEO. “The SLS core stage remains the world’s most powerful rocket stage, and the only one that can carry American astronauts directly to the Moon and beyond in a single launch. As NASA lays out an accelerated launch schedule, our workforce and supply chain are prepared to meet the increased production needs. With a rocket designed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, built at America’s rocket factory at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and integrated at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, we are ready to meet the increased demand.”

The announcement came during a news conference at NASA Kennedy where leaders also discussed the status of the Artemis II mission. NASA rolled the SLS and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on February 25 for repairs ahead of the next launch opportunities for the test flight in April.

Once the Artemis II hardware was back in the VAB, teams immediately began work on the helium issue discovered on the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and prepared for several actions including replacing batteries in the flight termination system, end-to-end testing for range safety requirements, and more.

“I’m grateful to Administrator Isaacman for taking this bold step and moving quickly to assure we have the support and resources needed to launch Artemis astronauts to the Moon every year,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Our team is up to the challenge of a successful Artemis II mission, and soon thereafter, enabling a more frequent cadence of Moon missions.”

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Cory S Huston

The Second SLS Rocket Is Back in the Barn...

NASA / Cory S Huston

NASA Invites Media to Discuss Next Steps for Artemis Campaign (News Release)

With rollback of NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building complete, the agency will host a news conference at 10 a.m. EST on Friday, February 27. Live from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, leadership will discuss the work ahead for the test flight, as well as provide a broader update on the Artemis campaign.

The news conference will stream on NASA’s YouTube channel. An instant replay will be available online. Learn how to watch NASA content on a variety of platforms, including social media.

NASA participants include:

-- Administrator Jared Isaacman
-- Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya
-- Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate

This event is open to in-person for media previously credentialed at NASA Kennedy for the Artemis II launch. To participate virtually, media must RSVP for call details no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the event to the newsroom at NASA Kennedy: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov. NASA’s media credentialing policy is online.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Cory S Huston


NASA / John Kraus

The Second Flight of SLS Won't Take Place Next Month as Hoped for...

NASA / Sam Lott

NASA to Rollback Artemis II Rocket, Spacecraft (News Release)

Weather pending, NASA will roll the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II off the launch pad at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as soon as Tuesday, February 24.

Engineers are continuing to prepare for the move after encountering an issue with the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage.

On February 21, managers decided to remove recently-installed platforms before high winds descend on the Space Coast, which poised teams for rollback while discussions about the issue were ongoing. Returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy is required to determine the cause of the issue and fix it.

Teams are reviewing the exact time to begin the approximately 4 mile, multi-hour trek.

The quick work to begin preparations for rolling the rocket and spacecraft back to the VAB potentially preserves the April launch window, pending the outcome of data findings, repair efforts, and how the schedule comes to fruition in the coming days and weeks.

The Artemis II crew members were released from quarantine the evening of February 21 and remain in Houston.

NASA will hold a media event in the coming days to discuss rollback, and plans for the Artemis II test flight.

Source: NASA.Gov

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After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy. This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window. @NASA will…

— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 21, 2026

Hours after being lifted, the temporary pad access platform at LC-39B has been lowered back to the ground following the announcement by NASA that SLS could potentially be rolled back to the VAB, due to issues with helium on the ICPS.@NASASpaceflight | https://t.co/BEepgAJYUG pic.twitter.com/D0RcR7Ly8o

— Elisar Priel (@ENNEPS) February 21, 2026

Earlier today, the slidewire baskets, which would be used in an emergency to evacuate the launch pad, were released from the tower and descended to a staging area near the pad’s perimeter. This enables the disconnection of the cables that the baskets are attached to. pic.twitter.com/ia3L4PvJOz

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) February 22, 2026

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