NASA targets March 6 for Artemis 2 launch to take astronauts around the Moon
The launch of Artemis 2 is getting closer as NASA has now set a target date for the start of the 10-day mission. The agency aims to launch as early as March 6 after a successful dress rehearsal on Thursday. The first attempt, which took place in early February, failed due to a hydrogen leak.
During Thursday’s rehearsal, NASA was able to fuel the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with more than 700,000 gallons of liquid propellant and conduct two terminal counts – the final step in the launch countdown – at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Despite a problem with a loss of ground communications, NASA was able to switch to a backup system before regular communications channels were operational again. The agency said engineers identified the equipment causing the problem.
“After this successful wet hold yesterday, we are now targeting March 6 as our first launch attempt,” Dr. Lori Glaze, NASA’s Moon to Mars program manager, said at a news conference Friday. Glaze added that there is still much to do before launch, including wet-suit analysis, flight readiness review and launch pad work.
All four Artemis 2 astronauts are expected to quarantine later Friday in preparation for the launch, which will mark the Orion spacecraft’s first crewed mission. It will be the first time in more than 50 years that a crew will circle the Moon and it will be humanity’s longest journey into space. Astronauts will test Orion’s critical life support systems as a precursor to Moon landings.
