NASA Delays Artemis 2 Moon Mission to March

Unannounced test uncovers new issue with Space Launch System rocket

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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NASA has delayed the Artemis 2 moon mission from February to at least March after a recent test uncovered a new issue with the Space Launch System rocket. The mission, which will send three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day trip around the moon, was originally slated for liftoff in February but has been pushed back at least a month due to a hydrogen leak and a problem with ground support equipment discovered during prelaunch tests.

Why it matters

The Artemis 2 mission is the first crewed flight under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to eventually return astronauts to the lunar surface. Delays in the program could push back future moon landing plans, and the technical issues with the SLS rocket highlight the challenges of developing a new heavy-lift launch vehicle for deep space exploration.

The details

During a recent unannounced test, ground crews at the Kennedy Space Center partially fueled the 322-foot SLS rocket with liquid hydrogen to see if recent repairs had fixed hydrogen leaks discovered earlier. However, the test uncovered a new issue with ground support equipment that could reduce the flow of liquid hydrogen into the rocket. NASA engineers are now working to inspect and replace a suspected filter to resolve the problem.

  • The Artemis 2 mission was originally slated for liftoff in February 2026.
  • NASA has delayed the launch to at least March 6, 2026, but has not yet announced an official new launch date.
  • The Artemis 2 astronauts entered quarantine on January 21, 2026, and have since exited quarantine due to the delay.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis program and the development of the Space Launch System rocket.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's towering 322-foot heavy-lift rocket that will launch the Artemis 2 mission around the moon.

Artemis 2

The first crewed mission under NASA's Artemis program, which will send three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut on a 10-day trip around the moon.

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen

The four astronauts selected for the Artemis 2 mission.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

NASA will conduct another wet dress rehearsal and complete a flight readiness review before committing to a new launch date for the Artemis 2 mission.

The takeaway

The technical issues with the Space Launch System rocket highlight the challenges of developing a new heavy-lift launch vehicle for deep space exploration, and the delays in the Artemis program could push back future plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface.