NASA Conducts Second Rocket Fueling Test for Moon Mission

The results will determine when the agency's historic lunar mission will launch.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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NASA attempted to fully fuel its massive new moon rocket on Thursday, after leaks interrupted the initial dress rehearsal and forced a delay. The successful completion of this second fueling test will help determine when the agency's historic Artemis I mission around the moon can finally lift off.

Why it matters

The Artemis I mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s. This uncrewed test flight will pave the way for future Artemis missions that will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon.

The details

During the nearly 11-hour fueling process, the team loaded over 700,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the core stage and upper stage of the Space Launch System rocket. Engineers were able to resolve a hydrogen leak that had disrupted the first dress rehearsal attempt in April.

  • The fueling test took place on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • NASA's initial dress rehearsal attempt was in April 2026.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the country's public space program.

Artemis I

NASA's uncrewed test flight around the moon that will pave the way for future Artemis missions to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

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What’s next

NASA will analyze the data from the fueling test to ensure all systems are ready for launch. The agency has not yet set a target launch date for the Artemis I mission, but this successful test brings them one step closer to liftoff.

The takeaway

NASA's Artemis program represents a major milestone in the agency's plans to return humans to the moon, setting the stage for future crewed missions that could lead to a sustained lunar presence and even future expeditions to Mars.