Artemis II Rocket Undergoes ‘Wet Dress Rehearsal’ as NASA Prepares for Historic Lunar Orbit Crewed Mission Next Sunday
Back to the moon.
It’s a pivotal week for the return of humans to the moon.
NASA is completing final preparations for its historic lunar mission, scheduled to launch next Sunday. During Artemis II, four astronauts will travel around the moon in a groundbreaking journey that marks a major step forward in space exploration.
News: the countdown officially started for the rehearsal of our upcoming @NASAArtemis launch. Teams will fuel the rocket and run through a full range of operations to make sure everything is ready for our crewed launch around the Moon. More on the milestones ahead:… pic.twitter.com/MYL5ClKne6
— NASA (@NASA) February 1, 2026
The wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission around the Moon began at 8:13pm ET on Jan. 31 and will continue tomorrow with @NASAKennedy teams fueling the rocket.
The results from this test will help inform teams about a possible launch date. https://t.co/8wBtyGUeh6 pic.twitter.com/FVCmtlErU9
— NASA (@NASA) February 2, 2026
A key test taking place today will determine whether the massive moon rocket is ready for flight. NBC News reports:
“Known as a ‘wet dress rehearsal,’ the test is essentially a full launch-day walkthrough. NASA will completely fuel its next-generation Space Launch System rocket and proceed through every step of the countdown as if it were launch day, stopping about 30 seconds before liftoff. The results will help engineers and mission managers evaluate the rocket’s performance and overall readiness.”
Artemis II is scheduled to launch no earlier than Sunday (8). The 10-day mission will send the crew farther from Earth than any humans have ever traveled before.
“If all goes according to plan, NASA could announce a targeted liftoff time in the coming days. However, if problems arise, the agency may have to postpone the mission.”
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