A NASA document showing the potential launch windows for its Artemis II moon mission was updated on Tuesday, with the agency highlighting March 6 to 9 and March 11 as possible target dates.
NASA had already indicated that Artemis II would slip to a March launch date after a critical test of the mission’s spacecraft—the so-called wet dress rehearsal—went awry on Monday. In response to a request for comment, the agency confirmed the updated document detailing the early March dates was accurate.
During the test, the Space Launch System (SLS) sprang hydrogen fuel leaks—a problem that plagued the mission’s predecessor, Artemis I. Despite trying to stem the leaks using techniques learned from Artemis I, however, NASA engineers still have some work ahead to fix the SLS problem. And the spacecraft’s capsule, designed to ferry a crew of four astronauts in a loop around the moon and back, encountered problems with a recently replaced valve.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
When, exactly, Artemis II will launch depends on a successful rehearsal in which NASA will attempt to fuel the rocket again and test its systems without the crew onboard. The rehearsal’s date is yet to be determined.
If that goes to plan, then we could see the agency’s next mission to the moon launch in about a month. If not, NASA’s documentation shows the agency could target early April instead.
Editor’s Note (2/9/26): This article was edited after posting to correct the description of the document about the potential launch dates for Artemis II. The article was previously updated on February 4 to include comment from NASA.