NASA Targets March for First Artemis Moon Mission After Successful Fueling Test

The space agency aims to send astronauts to the lunar surface following the latest successful cryogenic fuel loading test.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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NASA is targeting March for its first Artemis moon mission after successfully completing the latest cryogenic fuel loading test of its Space Launch System rocket. The test, conducted at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, verified the agency's ability to load supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the massive rocket's core stage and upper stage.

Why it matters

The successful fueling test marks a major milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. This first uncrewed Artemis mission will pave the way for future crewed flights to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence there.

The details

During the 8-hour fueling test, engineers loaded over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the Space Launch System rocket. The test verified the rocket's ability to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures of the supercold liquid hydrogen and oxygen. NASA says the successful test clears the way for the first Artemis launch, which will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a journey around the Moon.

  • The fueling test was conducted on February 20, 2026 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • NASA is targeting March 2026 for the first Artemis moon mission.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Artemis Program

NASA's program to return humans to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the lunar surface.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's new heavy-lift launch vehicle that will be used to send the Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and cargo to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

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What they’re saying

“The successful completion of this cryogenic demonstration test is a critical milestone for the Artemis I mission, and it brings us one step closer to the first launch.”

— Tom Whitmeyer, Deputy Associate Administrator for Common Exploration Systems Development (NASA)

What’s next

NASA will now focus on final preparations for the Artemis I mission, which will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a journey around the Moon. This uncrewed test flight is a crucial step before NASA sends astronauts to the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The successful fueling test marks a major milestone for NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for the first uncrewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo era. This mission will lay the groundwork for future crewed flights, as NASA works to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the lunar surface.