NASA Artemis II Moon Mission 2026 Update: Eyes March 6 for Rocket Launch After Successful Rehearsal
NASA is targeting March 6, 2026, for the Artemis II rocket launch following a successful fueling test at Kennedy Space Center. The crew of four has entered quarantine for the 10-day mission, which will be the first to carry humans around the Moon in over 50 years. This flight is the final test before NASA's planned lunar landing in 2027.
New York, February 21: NASA has designated Friday, March 6, 2026, as the earliest target date for the highly anticipated Artemis II moon mission. The announcement follows a successful "wet dress rehearsal" completed late Thursday night, during which engineers successfully loaded 730,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This critical milestone clears the way for the first crewed flight to the lunar environment in more than 50 years, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon.
The path to the March launch window was solidified after NASA technicians resolved persistent liquid hydrogen leaks that had plagued previous tests earlier this month. During a press conference on February 20, senior NASA officials confirmed that the new seals and filters held firm under flight-like conditions. As a final precaution, the four-member crew, three Americans and one Canadian, officially entered a mandatory pre-flight health quarantine on Friday night to ensure their readiness for the upcoming mission. NASA Artemis II Moon Launch 2026: Check Date, Time, and Live Streaming Details.
NASA Artemis Rocket Launch: Successful Fueling and Countdown Rehearsal
The recent fueling test, or wet dress rehearsal, served as the final major technical hurdle for the Artemis rocket launch. For the first time, the launch team successfully navigated two full terminal counts, bringing the clock as close as 29 seconds before a simulated liftoff. This exercise allowed controllers to practice "recycle" operations, the complex process of resetting the rocket's systems after a paused countdown, which is vital for maintaining flexibility during a real launch window.
Senior NASA official Lori Glaze noted that while the data from the test is still being analyzed, the team is in a "very good position." The successful demonstration of the core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage fueling gives the agency high confidence in the vehicle's structural integrity and ground support systems. Why Was NASA Artemis II Launch Stopped? Know What Went Wrong.
The Mission: A Lunar Flyby
Artemis II will be a pivotal test of NASA’s deep-space capabilities. The crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, will travel inside the Orion spacecraft, which will be propelled by the massive SLS rocket. The mission profile involves a high Earth orbit for initial system checkouts followed by a trans-lunar injection that will carry the capsule approximately 4,700 miles (7,600 km) beyond the far side of the Moon.
This trajectory will take the crew farther from Earth than any human in history, surpassing the record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. Unlike the subsequent Artemis III mission, Artemis II will not land on the lunar surface; instead, it will perform a "free-return" maneuver, using the Moon's gravity to sling the spacecraft back toward Earth for a high-speed splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The success of the Artemis II rocket launch is essential for NASA's broader goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. It builds on the uncrewed Artemis I mission of 2022 and serves as the final proof-of-concept for the life-support systems required for lunar landings. If the March 6 launch and subsequent 10-day mission are successful, NASA remains on track for the Artemis III lunar landing, currently slated for 2027 or 2028.
Space agency officials emphasized that the March window is narrow, with only five viable days available before orbital mechanics would force a delay until April. "Every night I look up at the Moon and I feel she’s calling us," Glaze remarked, echoing the sentiment of a team now in the final stretch of preparations for America's return to deep space.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2026 10:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).