NASA Conducts Second Rocket Fueling Test for Artemis Moon Mission

Outcome will determine if March launch is possible for Artemis II mission with four astronauts

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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NASA is taking another attempt at fueling its giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket after leaks halted the initial dress rehearsal and delayed the first lunar trip by astronauts in more than half a century. The outcome of this second fueling test will determine whether a March launch is possible for the Artemis II moon mission with four astronauts - three Americans and one Canadian.

Why it matters

The successful completion of this fueling test is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The Artemis II mission will be the first crewed flight of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will attempt to land astronauts near the moon's south pole.

The details

During the previous rehearsal two weeks ago, dangerous amounts of supercold liquid hydrogen escaped from the connections between the launch pad and the 322-foot SLS rocket. Engineers have replaced a pair of seals and a clogged filter in hopes of getting through the repeat test at Kennedy Space Center. NASA won't set a launch date for the Artemis II mission until it passes this critical fueling demonstration.

  • The second fueling test began on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • The soonest astronauts could launch is March 6, 2026.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the country's civilian space program, aeronautics, and space research.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which will send four astronauts - three Americans and one Canadian - on a 10-day out-and-back trip to the moon without orbiting or landing.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's powerful new rocket that will enable crewed missions to the moon as part of the Artemis program.

Jared Isaacman

NASA's new administrator, a tech entrepreneur who has financed his own trips to orbit through SpaceX.

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What they’re saying

“We will not launch unless we are ready and the safety of our astronauts will remain the highest priority.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (X)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This second fueling test is a critical milestone for NASA's Artemis program, as the successful completion of this rehearsal will determine if the Artemis II mission can launch as soon as March 2026. The agency has been battling persistent hydrogen fuel leaks, and is working to redesign the fuel connections before the next Artemis III mission, which will attempt to land astronauts near the moon's south pole.