Space
NASA Prepares for Second Artemis 2 Fueling Test After Hydrogen Leak Setback
NASA will attempt to fuel its Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket for the second time on February 19, after a hydrogen leak during the first wet dress rehearsal forced the agency to wave off a February launch window. If the test succeeds, a crewed lunar mission could launch as early as March.
Key Takeaways
- NASA will attempt its second Artemis 2 fueling test on February 19 after a hydrogen leak halted the first at T-minus 5 minutes
- Engineers spent two weeks repairing the hydrogen interface and analyzing data from the first test
- A successful test could enable a crewed lunar flyby mission as early as March 2026
- The four-person crew includes historic firsts: the first person of color and first woman to fly beyond low Earth orbit
- Liquid hydrogen's tiny molecular size and extreme cold make leaks a persistent engineering challenge
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DT Editorial AI··via space.com