NASA has scheduled another attempt at its crucial “wet dress rehearsal” for the Artemis II mission, aiming for Thursday, This test is a critical milestone, simulating the launch day experience without the rocket actually leaving the pad.
The decision to try again follows a partial fueling test , which was cut short due to flow issues with liquid hydrogen. Engineers traced the problem to a filter in the ground support equipment. Over the weekend, teams successfully replaced that filter and reconnected the lines, setting the stage for a full rehearsal.
The upcoming test will be a comprehensive run-through. Starting the evening of Feb. 17, the launch team will begin a nearly 50-hour countdown. The core objective is to load supercold liquid propellant into the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The team will practice the entire launch countdown, including holds, scrubs, and the complex process of draining the tanks safely.
A key part of the exercise is the terminal count, the final minutes before liftoff. Controllers will run through this sequence twice, pausing at critical points—T-1 minute and 30 seconds, and again at T-33 seconds—before recycling the clock back to T-10 minutes for a second run. This allows them to validate procedures and system responses under simulated launch pressure. Although the four astronauts who will fly aboard Artemis II won’t be at the controls, a support team will be at the pad to practice closing the Orion spacecraft’s hatches.
While a successful rehearsal is a prerequisite for setting a launch date, NASA has already identified a potential window. If this week’s test goes well and the data looks good, the earliest possible launch opportunity for the lunar flyaround mission is March 6. The agency will continue to provide live views of the rocket at the pad and share detailed updates as the rehearsal progresses.
