NASA achieved a crucial milestone in its Artemis II lunar program on February 19, 2026, successfully completing a second fueling test of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket after technical challenges delayed humanity's first crewed moon mission in over 50 years.
Teams at Kennedy Space Center loaded 2.6 million liters of supercooled liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the 98-meter-tall rocket during an eight-hour procedure. This "wet dress rehearsal" marks significant progress following leaks that halted an earlier attempt this month.
"This test brings us closer to returning astronauts to lunar exploration," said NASA's Moon Program Director during a post-test briefing. The Artemis II mission, now targeting late 2026, will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby – the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Engineers are analyzing data from the test as NASA works toward final launch preparations. The successful fueling operation maintains momentum for the agency's ambitious timeline, which aims to establish sustainable lunar exploration by the 2030s.
