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NASA's Artemis II Completes Countdown Test, Prepares for Lunar Mission
The second wet dress rehearsal went smoothly, paving the way for the crewed mission around the Moon.
Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:07pm
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NASA successfully completed the second wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon. The test involved loading over 700,000 gallons of propellant into the rocket and practicing the final countdown procedures. While a few minor glitches occurred, such as a brief loss of ground communications and a voltage anomaly, the overall test was deemed a major success, allowing the crew to begin their pre-flight quarantine ahead of the targeted March 6 launch date.
Why it matters
The Artemis II mission will be the first crewed flight of NASA's new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, marking America's return to lunar exploration after more than 50 years. The successful completion of the countdown test is a critical milestone that brings the mission one step closer to launch, reigniting public interest and excitement around human deep space exploration.
The details
During the wet dress rehearsal, engineers loaded the massive rocket with over 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant and practiced the final countdown procedures, including sending a closeout crew to the launch pad to demonstrate closing the Orion spacecraft's hatches. While a few minor issues arose, such as a brief loss of ground communications and a voltage anomaly, the team was able to quickly resolve them and continue the test. The successful fueling and countdown simulation gives NASA confidence in the new seals they've installed to address previous hydrogen leaks.
- The second wet dress rehearsal took place on February 20, 2026.
- The Artemis I uncrewed mission around the Moon occurred in 2022.
- The Artemis II crew will begin their two-week pre-flight quarantine on February 21, 2026.
- The targeted launch date for the Artemis II mission is March 6, 2026.
The players
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator who expressed pride in the agency's team and progress towards the Artemis II mission.
Reid Wiseman
Mission commander for the Artemis II crew, which also includes pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
NASA
The U.S. space agency leading the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
What they’re saying
“Major progress between WDR and WDR2. Proud of the @NASA team as this was a big step toward America's return to the lunar environment. We are going.”
— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator
What’s next
The Artemis II crew will begin their two-week pre-flight quarantine on February 21, 2026, with the first potential launch date set for March 6, 2026.
The takeaway
The successful completion of the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is a significant milestone in NASA's plan to return humans to the Moon, paving the way for the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The minor issues encountered during the test were quickly resolved, demonstrating the agency's ability to overcome challenges and maintain progress towards this historic spaceflight.
