NASA Fuels SLS Rocket for Artemis 2 in Key Test at Florida Pad

NASA teams at Kennedy Space Center in Florida began loading the Space Launch System rocket with fuel on Monday, February 2, 2026, for a wet dress rehearsal. This test runs through a full countdown with real propellants to prepare for the Artemis 2 mission, where four astronauts will fly around the moon. The work started after some delays from cold weather, and teams aim to finish by early Tuesday morning.

Background

The Artemis program aims to send people back to the moon for the first time since 1972. Artemis 2 will be the first crewed flight of this new effort. The rocket, called the Space Launch System or SLS, stands 322 feet tall at Launch Pad 39B. NASA rolled it out there with the Orion spacecraft on January 17 after putting them together in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

This wet dress rehearsal is the last big ground test before launch. It checks how well the rocket handles about 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuels like liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Teams started the countdown clock on Thursday evening, January 29, about 49 hours before a make-believe liftoff time. Cold temperatures pushed the fueling back from late January to February 2.

Past tests had problems. During Artemis 1 in 2022, a leak delayed things by six months. NASA fixed those issues and flew that uncrewed mission successfully. Now, with people on board planned for Artemis 2, every step matters more.

The four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, plus Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency—have been in quarantine in Houston since January 21. They wait for word on whether to head to Florida.

Key Details

Fueling kicked off around 11 a.m. EST on February 2 after launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson gave the go-ahead. Non-essential workers left the pad earlier that morning as the sun came up. The process fills the core stage and the upper stage, called the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, with cryogenic propellants.

Teams first put the tanks into fast fill, then topping, and now replenish mode to keep levels steady. All stages reached replenish by Monday afternoon. Engineers watch a spot on the tail service mast umbilical where a hydrogen leak showed up before. So far, levels stay stable there.

The countdown hit a 40-minute hold, something new from lessons learned on Artemis 1. After that, they plan final checks on valves and sensors. The closeout crew will head back to the pad for Orion work, like closing hatches. NASA targets a simulated launch at 9 p.m. EST Monday, but it could run to 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Hydrogen Flow Updates

Earlier pauses happened on liquid hydrogen flows, but tanking picked up again. The upper stage moved to fast fill on hydrogen. Other tanks stay in replenish. A 24/7 live view from the pad shows the rocket, and another feed covers the test activities.

"Teams were given the 'go' to proceed into fueling operations from Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and mission managers." – NASA commentary

NASA shifted dates a few times. It was set for January 31, then back to February 2 because of freezing cold at the pad over the weekend.

What This Means

A smooth test clears the rocket for flight and lets NASA call the astronauts to Florida. They could arrive around 3 p.m. EST on February 3 if all goes well, then do a media event. That starts their final prep and quarantine at the space center ahead of a possible February launch.

If issues pop up, like leaks needing fixes, the rocket might roll back to the assembly building. The crew could stay in Houston or end quarantine early. NASA plans a news conference soon after to share early results.

This step sets the path for Artemis 2, the first crewed SLS flight. Success builds trust in the systems for later missions, like Artemis 3 that will land on the moon. The test also trains ground teams on the full countdown with fuel on board. Any small problem now avoids bigger ones at launch time.

Delays from weather show how Florida's changing climate affects space work. Freezing temps are rare there but hit hard on cold fuels. Teams adapted by waiting for safer conditions.

The Artemis 2 crew trained for years. Wiseman commands, Glover pilots, Koch and Hansen are mission specialists. Their flight will loop the moon without landing, testing Orion for longer trips.

NASA shares updates through blogs and streams. Thousands watch online as history builds. The wet dress rehearsal wraps up one phase, but more checks follow before stacking Orion if needed—no, Orion is already stacked. Launch teams stay ready for whatever comes next.

Freezing weather pushed back the test, but now fueling moves forward. Stable readings keep hopes high. If the closeout crew gets the green light, the test nears its end. NASA leaders will review data to pick a launch date, now no earlier than February 9.