NASA Delays First Artemis Moonshot with Astronauts Due to Extreme Cold

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NASA has postponed the first Artemis moonshot with a crew due to expected near-freezing temperatures at the launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch, originally scheduled for February 6, is now targeted for no earlier than February 8 as the agency conducts critical fueling tests and adapts rocket and capsule systems to the cold weather.

Why it matters

The Artemis program represents NASA's return to crewed lunar exploration after a 50-year hiatus since the last Apollo mission. Delays in the first Artemis launch with astronauts aboard could push back the overall timeline for the program's ambitious goals, including establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.

The details

NASA was preparing to conduct a critical fueling test of the 322-foot (98-meter) Artemis moon rocket on Saturday, but called off those plans late Thursday due to the expected cold temperatures at the launch site. The fueling test has now been rescheduled for Monday, weather permitting. The change leaves NASA with only three days in February to attempt the first Artemis crewed lunar mission before slipping into March.

• The first Artemis moonshot with a crew was originally targeted for February 6, 2026.
• The launch is now targeted for no earlier than February 8, 2026.

What’s next

NASA has only a handful of days each month to launch the first Artemis crew to the Moon, so the agency will be closely monitoring weather conditions at the Cape Canaveral launch site in the coming days to determine if they can attempt the mission in early February as now targeted.