NASA Eyes March 6 Launch of Astronaut Moon Mission After Passing Key Test

Agency overcomes rocket-fueling issues in second launch rehearsal, but final preparations could delay liftoff

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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NASA officials have announced plans to launch four astronauts around the moon and back on March 6 as part of the Artemis II mission, after successfully completing a 50-hour launch countdown rehearsal. The agency overcame earlier issues with hydrogen leaks during an initial rehearsal, but cautioned that remaining pre-launch work could still push the liftoff date further into NASA's March launch window.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. A successful Artemis II flight would pave the way for the Artemis III mission, which is planned to land astronauts on the moon.

The details

During the latest 50-hour rehearsal, NASA's launch team fueled the Space Launch System rocket with 730,000 gallons of propellant without encountering the hydrogen leaks that had plagued an earlier test. NASA launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said the team felt 'really good' and 'very proud' after the successful simulation. However, the agency still needs to complete additional pre-launch checks, including testing the rocket's flight termination system and conducting a comprehensive Flight Readiness Review, before giving the final go-ahead for liftoff.

  • The 50-hour launch countdown rehearsal was conducted on Thursday, February 16, 2026.
  • NASA is targeting March 6, 2026 for the launch of the Artemis II mission.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics, and space research.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

NASA's launch director, who expressed pride in the team's successful completion of the latest launch countdown rehearsal.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like last night was a big step in us earning our right to fly. So, felt really good, very proud of the team.”

— Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA Launch Director (Reuters)

What’s next

NASA still needs to complete testing of the rocket's flight termination system and conduct a comprehensive Flight Readiness Review before giving the final approval for the Artemis II launch on March 6.

The takeaway

The successful completion of the latest launch countdown rehearsal is a significant milestone for NASA's Artemis program, bringing the agency one step closer to returning astronauts to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. However, the agency remains cautious, acknowledging that remaining pre-launch work could still delay the targeted March 6 liftoff date.