NASA Targets March 6 Moon Launch After Successful Fuel Test

Space agency aims to send astronauts to the moon in March following latest rocket fueling test.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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NASA announced plans to launch its Artemis II lunar mission on March 6, two weeks after successfully completing a critical rocket fueling test. The mission will send four astronauts - three Americans and one Canadian - on a flight around the moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo 17 flight in 1972.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the lunar surface. After decades without crewed lunar exploration, this mission will pave the way for future Artemis missions, including the planned Artemis III landing at the moon's south pole in the coming years.

The details

NASA completed a successful rocket fueling test on Thursday, resolving earlier issues with hydrogen leaks that had disrupted previous countdown rehearsals. With the technical hurdles cleared, NASA is now targeting March 6 for the Artemis II launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-person crew will spend nearly 10 days in space, circling the moon but not landing. This mission is considered a critical test flight before the first attempted lunar landing in the Artemis III mission, for which NASA is still selecting the crew.

  • NASA announced the March 6 target launch date on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • The Artemis II mission will mark the first crewed lunar flight since the final Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.

The players

Lori Glaze

NASA's exploration systems development chief.

Jared Isaacman

NASA administrator.

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II crew.

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What they’re saying

“This is really getting real, and it's time to get serious and start getting excited.”

— Lori Glaze, NASA's exploration systems development chief

“The countdown clocks went all the way down to the desired 29-second mark.”

— Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Launch director

“Every night I look up at the moon and I see it and I get real excited because I can really feel she's calling us, and we're ready.”

— Lori Glaze, NASA's exploration systems development chief

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will enter a mandatory two-week health quarantine in Houston on Friday night. The flight readiness review is scheduled for late next week, and if approved, the astronauts will travel to Kennedy Space Center around the beginning of March for the final countdown.

The takeaway

The successful fueling test and confirmed March 6 launch date mark a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. While significant work remains before the first Artemis lunar landing, this mission represents a critical step forward in humanity's return to the moon.