NASA Gears Up for Another Artemis II Countdown Test

Repairs made to fix fuel leaks that delayed the moonshot mission

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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NASA has begun another practice launch countdown for its first moonshot in decades with astronauts, after making repairs to fix dangerous fuel leaks that have already pushed the flight into March. The two-day test will culminate on Thursday with the attempted fill-up of the rocket's fuel tanks, which the four Artemis II astronauts will monitor from afar. A successful, leak-free test is needed before NASA will set a launch date, with the earliest possible liftoff now set for March 6.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first time astronauts will travel to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. This test is a crucial step in ensuring the mission's safety and success, as NASA works to overcome the fuel leak issues that have already caused delays.

The details

Launch teams have replaced a pair of seals and a clogged filter at the Kennedy Space Center pad where the giant moon rocket stands, in an effort to fix the liquid hydrogen leaks that disrupted the Artemis program's first flight without anyone aboard three years ago. The two-day test will culminate on Thursday with the attempted fill-up of the rocket's fuel tanks, which the four Artemis II astronauts will monitor from afar.

  • The first fueling test was halted two weeks ago by the same kind of liquid hydrogen leaks.
  • NASA has begun another practice launch countdown for its first moonshot in decades with astronauts.
  • The two-day test will culminate on Thursday with the attempted fill-up of the rocket's fuel tanks.
  • The earliest the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket could blast off is March 6.

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 II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, with the first crewed Artemis mission planned for 2024.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's new heavy-lift rocket that will be used to launch the Artemis missions to the Moon.

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What’s next

A successful, leak-free test is needed before NASA will set a launch date for the Artemis II mission. The earliest the SLS rocket could blast off is March 6.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to return astronauts to the Moon, but the program has faced setbacks due to fuel leak issues. This latest countdown test is a crucial step in ensuring the mission's safety and success, as NASA works to overcome these technical challenges and set a firm launch date.