NASA plans to simulate a test launch of its Artemis II giant moon rocket as early as Saturday (January 31), and engineers say they are on track or ahead of schedule.
The Artemis II mission, which could launch as early as February 6, is intended to send humans around the moon in preparation for the next Artemis III mission, which will land astronauts on the moon’s surface. This will be the first time in more than 50 years that NASA has sent humans back to the moon, and the first time a woman will be on the crew.
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The upcoming mock test launch is part of NASA’s final preparations before finalizing a launch date for Artemis II. The mock launch will be preceded by a “wet dress rehearsal” in which engineers will test the fuel supply to the Artemis II rocket.
NASA launched the mission’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft on January 17. The rocket and spacecraft are currently on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 322 feet (98 meters), including a 212-foot (65-meter) core stage and the Orion crew capsule above, the structure is taller than the Statue of Liberty.
During a wet dress rehearsal, NASA crew members demonstrate the ability to fill the rocket with more than 700,000 gallons (2.6 million liters) of cryogenic propellant. The rehearsal will also include a countdown to the mock launch scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. However, NASA says the test could last until about 1 a.m. ET.
The space agency noted that temperatures in Florida are colder than expected due to the Arctic blast currently hitting the United States, so engineers said they are taking steps to ensure that the environmental control systems that keep the SLS rocket and Orion at the right temperature can withstand the cold.
NASA staff are also working on other issues, including Orion’s drinking water system, where initial samples were found to contain higher levels of organic carbon than expected. The water system will provide drinking water to the Artemis II crew, the space agency said.
Artemis II’s four-person crew includes three NASA astronauts: Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch. The fourth member of the crew is Canadian Space Agency astronaut and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.
The crew began quarantining in Houston on January 23, according to NASA. Astronauts will be quarantined before launch to avoid contracting diseases that could delay the mission. NASA plans to fly the crew to Florida about six days before launch.
The Artemis mission has been delayed before. For example, Artemis 1 returned to NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building twice in 2022 after experiencing problems during a wet dress rehearsal. The rocket ultimately launched during NASA’s fourth launch attempt in November 2022. As with any spaceflight mission, NASA’s proposed test and launch dates are subject to change. The Artemis II launch period could be extended until April 2026 at the latest.
If Artemis II successfully completes a trip around the moon, NASA will test the systems and hardware needed to send astronauts on and beyond the lunar surface on increasingly difficult future missions. The space agency plans to establish a persistent presence on the lunar surface, which it claims will be a stepping stone to future exploration of Mars.
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