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NASA Sets March 6 Target for Artemis II After Wet‑Dress Rehearsal Success

Updated (2 articles)

Successful Wet‑Dress Rehearsal Clears Major Technical Hurdles The second full‑scale “wet dress rehearsal” at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday resolved the hydrogen‑leak problems discovered in the Feb. 3 test, allowing NASA to move the crewed launch forward and announce a possible March 6 liftoff [1][2].

NASA Leadership Highlights Progress and Imminent Crew Quarantine Administrator Jared Isaacman praised “major progress” between rehearsals, while launch director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson called the test a “big step in earning our right to fly,” and the four‑person crew will begin a mandatory two‑week health quarantine Friday night ahead of the narrow five‑day March window [1][2].

Artemis II Crew Composition and Mission Objectives Confirmed The mission will carry Cmdr. Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, astronaut Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a ten‑day flight that will validate Orion and the Space Launch System in deep space, perform near‑Earth checks, and execute a lunar flyby, marking the first crewed lunar proximity since Apollo 17 [1][2].

Remaining Safety Checks and Weather Monitoring Still Required NASA must still complete final safety and operational examinations and assess weather conditions before the launch window can be officially confirmed; missing the five‑day window would push the next opportunity to April [1][2].

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Timeline

1972 – Apollo 17 completes the last crewed lunar mission, establishing a 54‑year gap before any human returns to the Moon’s vicinity, a benchmark that Artemis II aims to surpass. [1][2]

Feb 3, 2026 – NASA conducts the first Artemis II wet‑dress rehearsal, discovers hydrogen leaks and other issues, and postpones the early‑February launch attempt, prompting corrective actions for the crewed flight. [1][2]

Feb 19, 2026 – A second full‑scale wet‑dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center succeeds, fixing the hydrogen leaks and confirming launch‑readiness, with Administrator Jared Isaacman declaring “major progress” and launch director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson calling it “a big step in earning our right to fly.” [1][2]

Feb 21, 2026 – The four‑person Artemis II crew—Cmdr. Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—begins a mandatory two‑week health quarantine, aligning with the five‑day launch window that opens on March 6. [1][2]

Mar 6‑10, 2026 – NASA targets a launch as early as March 6 within a narrow five‑day window, planning to lift off on the Space Launch System and send Orion on a ten‑day mission that includes two days of near‑Earth checks, a lunar flyby, and a return to Earth, thereby validating Orion and SLS performance in deep space. [1][2]

Apr 2026 (if needed) – If the March launch does not occur, NASA pauses Artemis II operations until an April window opens, pending final safety, operations, and weather clearances. [1]

2026‑2027 (future) – Artemis III is slated to follow Artemis II, aiming to achieve the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo, building on the Orion and SLS validation from the Artemis II flight. [2]

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