NASA Launches Another Countdown Test for Artemis II Moonshot

Space agency hopes to fix fuel leaks that have delayed the historic mission

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

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 Artemis II flight into March. The two-day test will culminate on Thursday with an 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 can set a launch date, with the earliest possibility being March 6.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission will be the first time astronauts have blasted off for the moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972. NASA is eager to get the program back on track after technical issues have caused repeated delays, and a successful test is crucial to paving the way for this historic flight.

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 first fueling test was halted two weeks ago due to the same type of leaks.

  • NASA began the latest practice launch countdown on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The two-day test will culminate on Thursday, February 20, 2026 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, 2026.

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 launch vehicle, designed to be the most powerful rocket in the world and a key component of the Artemis program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

A successful, leak-free fueling test on February 20th is needed before NASA will set a launch date for the Artemis II mission, with the earliest possibility being March 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon, but technical issues with fuel leaks have caused repeated delays. A successful test of the rocket's fueling systems is crucial to getting the program back on track and paving the way for this historic flight.