NASA Targets Feb. 19 for Second Artemis II Moon Mission Fueling Rehearsal

The agency is preparing for a critical test as it moves closer to launching its next crewed mission around the moon.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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NASA has set Thursday, Feb. 19, as the target for a second wet dress rehearsal of its deep space rocket for the Artemis II mission. The nearly 50-hour countdown will begin on Feb. 17, leading to a simulated launch window opening at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. The rehearsal will include loading super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the Space Launch System rocket, running a full countdown, and practicing scrub scenarios.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is the first crewed test flight of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The wet dress rehearsal is a critical milestone, allowing engineers and launch teams to identify and fix issues before astronauts are aboard.

The details

Over the weekend, engineers replaced a filter in ground support equipment that was suspected of restricting the flow of liquid hydrogen during an earlier partial fueling test. Although the Artemis II astronauts will not participate, ground teams will practice Orion spacecraft closeout procedures, including hatch operations. NASA has not set an official launch date for Artemis II, as that will come only after the wet dress rehearsal is successfully completed and data reviews are finalized.

  • The countdown for the second wet dress rehearsal begins on Feb. 17.
  • The rehearsal will include two practice runs of the final 10 minutes of countdown, known as terminal count.
  • If all goes well, the earliest launch opportunity would be March 6.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency 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 astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.

Space Launch System

NASA's deep space rocket that will be used to launch the Artemis missions.

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What they’re saying

“NASA said teams replaced a filter that was "suspected of reducing the flow of liquid hydrogen" during the earlier fueling attempt and have "reconnected the line with the new filter and are reestablishing proper environmental conditions.”

— NASA (fox35orlando.com)

“NASA also said it will provide live coverage of the rehearsal, including a separate camera feed during fueling, and continue updates through its Artemis blog.”

— NASA (fox35orlando.com)

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

The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is a crucial step towards NASA's goal of returning astronauts to the moon, as it allows the agency to identify and address any technical issues before the actual crewed mission. A successful test will pave the way for the Artemis II launch, which will mark a significant milestone in the Artemis program's progress.