{"id":17049,"date":"2026-02-20T22:42:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nasa-completes-a-smooth-rehearsal-for-historic-artemis-2-moon-launch\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:42:15","slug":"nasa-completes-a-smooth-rehearsal-for-historic-artemis-2-moon-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nasa-completes-a-smooth-rehearsal-for-historic-artemis-2-moon-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA completes a smooth rehearsal for historic Artemis 2 moon launch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket stands on its Florida launch pad. (NASA Photo \/ Aubrey Gemignani)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NASA counted down to T-minus 29 seconds during a smooth rehearsal for a historic launch that could send astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than half a century.<\/p>\n

The run-through at Launch Complex 39B, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was known as a wet dress rehearsal because it involved filling up the propellant tanks on NASA\u2019s Space Launch System, a 322-foot-tall rocket that made its debut with 2022\u2019s uncrewed Artemis 1 mission.<\/p>\n

The only major component that was missing at the launch pad was the crew. NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, the commander for the Artemis 2 mission, said in a posting to X that he was watching the proceedings from NASA\u2019s Launch Control Center.<\/p>\n

Once NASA reviews the results of the two-day rehearsal, mission managers will decide whether to give the final go-ahead for the Artemis 2 crew\u2019s 10-day trip around the moon and back.<\/p>\n

Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA\u2019s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said the space agency is targeting March 6 for liftoff. \u201cEvery night I look at the moon, and I see it, and I get real excited because I can really feel she\u2019s calling us,\u201d she told reporters today. \u201cAnd we\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s simulated countdown provided an opportunity for NASA to check out the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion crew capsule and ground support systems in advance of the actual launch.<\/p>\n

An initial rehearsal on Feb. 2 was stopped at roughly T-minus 5 minutes due to a liquid hydrogen leak. Engineers made repairs at the pad, including a replacement of the hydrogen seals, to clear the way for a replay of the rehearsal.<\/p>\n

On Thursday night, NASA worked through some communication problems at the pad \u2014 and the team dealt with what it called a \u201cbooster avionics system voltage anomaly\u201d during the final minutes of the countdown. But the count eventually proceeded as planned to T-minus 33 seconds. At that point the countdown was paused and recycled to T-minus 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

It took about an hour to reconfigure the rocket\u2019s fueling system for another terminal count. Then NASA\u2019s launch team went through an even smoother second countdown and reached the scheduled stopping point at T-minus 29 seconds.<\/p>\n

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