America space The agency invested 11 million pounds space launch system and mobile launcher at Cape Canaveral Launchpad, Florida on Saturday, January 17. Slow motion of the 322-foot rocket, at the top orion It took 12 hours for the spacecraft to become old crawler-transporter To complete.
That four-mile journey could mark the first stage of Artemis II, a 10-day trip around the moon and back that will put the spacecraft through its paces. The lunar mission will be NASA’s first with astronauts – Victor Glover, Christina Koch, reed wisemanand Canada’s Jeremy Hansen – in 53 years Since Apollo 17.
Will load the so-called “wet dress rehearsal” mega moon rocket With 700,000 gallons of ultra-cooled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant and a countdown of 29 seconds before takeoff. How this test goes will shape the flight timeline and determine whether the opportunity for a February launch remains.
The Artemis launch director said, “We need to recover from the wet dress, we need to see what lessons we learn as a result of this, and that will ultimately determine our path toward launch.” Charlie Blackwell-Thompson Said. “With a wet outfit that is without significant issues, if everything goes according to plan, there are certainly opportunities within February that can be achieved.”
NASA says Artemis II can fly without its big, broken deep space antenna
NASA’s Mega Moon rocket lifts off from its giant warehouse at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
When is wet dress rehearsal?
The 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, will pass through the firing chamber on its way to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignan
During the test, teams will fuel the rocket and practice every major step of launch-day refueling. The controllers will run all countdown procedures, including the final “Terminal Count”, then intentionally stop at T‑29 seconds. NASA is aiming for February 2 for this important exercise, although this is subject to change depending on preparations.
mashable light speed
“We’ll review the data,” Blackwell‑Thompson said, “then we’ll prepare for our launch attempt.”
The results will determine whether NASA hits its earliest launch window, which opens on Feb. 6.
NASA’s crawler-transporter carries an 11 million-pound rocket stack and mobile launcher to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Artemis II is based on lessons learned from its first uncrewed voyage in 2022, which required multiple attempts to refuel. Engineers adjusted the way liquid oxygen was loaded after observing temperature issues and modified the hardware after discovering a hydrogen leak in the connection between the ground system and the rocket. They were also modified and cryogenically tested a key valve that caused trouble During the final unmanned countdown.
since Artemis IKennedy Space Center has modified procedures and upgraded hardware as part of the Artemis II plan.
The Mega Moon rocket travels 4 miles to reach the launchpad for a wet dress rehearsal at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
From left, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover, and Artemis II commander Reed Wiseman take questions from reporters as they walk past the Mega Moon rocket on the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
When will Artemis II launch?
After a 12-hour crawl, the rocket reaches Launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, just after 6 p.m. ET on January 17, 2026.
Credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock
Once the wet dress rehearsal is over, engineers will focus on performance of the rocket, Orion spacecraft and ground systems. Only if the data looks clear will mission managers proceed to set a specific launch date.
NASA officials have rejected any characterization that the team has “launch fever” or anything like that. Preparations have been intensified.
John Honeycutt, chairman of the mission management team, said, “I’ve got a job, and it’s the safe return of Reed and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. I consider it a duty and a trust.” “We’ll take off when we’re ready.”
<a href