Artemis 2 Launch Delayed as NASA Conducts Critical Refueling Test
NASA has postponed the start of a crucial refueling exercise for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, a key step in preparing for the Artemis 2 mission – the first crewed flight around the moon by the United States in over 50 years. The test, known as the Wet Dress Rehearsal, is now scheduled to begin January 31, shifting from its original date of January 29, with completion targeted for February 2.
The Artemis 2 mission is currently slated for a potential launch as early as February 6. This upcoming test meticulously simulates the entire launch process, from loading the rocket with cryogenic fuel to the final countdown sequence.
The SLS rocket, paired with the Orion spacecraft, was transported from the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B on January 17. Since then, crews have been diligently connecting the mobile launch platform to the ground infrastructure and conducting final preparations. The official wet dress rehearsal will commence approximately 48 hours before the simulated launch.
Saturday marks a pivotal moment, as teams will begin loading over 700,000 gallons – roughly 2.65 million liters – of cryogenic fuel into the rocket’s two primary components. When fully fueled, the SLS will weigh approximately 5.75 million pounds, or 2.6 million kilograms. The primary objective of this test is to run the mission clock down to 33 seconds before launch, allowing the rocket’s computers to execute final system checks. The clock will then be reset to 10 minutes, initiating another countdown to assess the procedures for stopping, restarting, and restoring the mission clock in various scenarios.
Despite the meticulous preparations, NASA acknowledges potential risks that could impact the launch schedule. Lessons learned from the Artemis 1 mission – which required four wet dress rehearsals and faced fuel leak issues necessitating three returns to the assembly building – are being carefully considered. However, officials maintain that these issues have been addressed.
Weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center also present a challenge, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing over the weekend. NASA is actively implementing measures to ensure the environmental control systems of both the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket maintain optimal conditions, drawing on insights from the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle tragedy.
The four-member Artemis 2 crew – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen – have already entered a pre-mission health quarantine. The anticipated 10-day mission will see the SLS launch the Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit before embarking on a trajectory to orbit the moon and return to Earth. This flight will serve as a critical test of the spacecraft’s systems and confirm its safety for future lunar landing missions.
While Artemis 2 will not involve a lunar landing, it represents a significant milestone in human space exploration, serving as a crucial bridge to the Artemis 3 mission, currently planned for 2028. NASA intends to expand the Artemis infrastructure during this period, including the development of the Gateway space station and a next-generation human lander.
