Artemis II moon rocket refueled in practice countdown setting stage for historic flight

February 20, 2026

TL;DR

NASA's Space Launch System rocket completed a successful practice countdown and fueling test.
Over 750,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants were loaded without significant hydrogen leaks.
The test is a key step for the Artemis II mission, targeting a March 6 launch date.
Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972 and will send astronauts farther from Earth than ever before.
Previous fueling tests were halted due to hydrogen leaks, but engineers replaced seals to resolve the issue.
The mission is a precursor to Artemis III, aiming to land astronauts near the moon's south pole in 2028.

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