NASA Delays Artemis 2 Rocket Test Due to Cold Weather

NASA teams at Kennedy Space Center in Florida are getting ready for a key test of the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis 2 mission. The test, called a wet dress rehearsal, involves fueling the rocket and running through a full launch countdown. Cold weather has delayed it to Monday, February 2, which means the first launch chance now starts no earlier than February 8.

Background

The Artemis 2 mission marks the first time astronauts will head to the moon since 1972. Four crew members will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft on top of the massive Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. The rocket stands 322 feet tall and rolled out to Launch Pad 39B earlier this month on January 17. This mission will send the crew around the moon without landing, testing systems for future trips.

NASA has spent years building the SLS and Orion. The wet dress rehearsal is the final big check before launch. It makes sure ground teams can load fuel, power up systems, and handle the countdown just like on a real launch day. The rocket uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, super cold fuels that need careful handling.

Cold snaps hit Florida this week, with temperatures dropping below freezing. NASA watched the weather closely. Freezing conditions could harm the hardware, so managers decided to wait. They kept the Orion spacecraft powered and adjusted heaters and purges to protect it during the chill.

Key Details

The wet dress rehearsal starts with teams taking their stations about 49 hours before the simulated launch time. That puts the start around 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 31, for a simulated liftoff at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 2. The test runs through the countdown to about 30 seconds before launch.

Test Procedures

During the rehearsal, crews will load nearly 750,000 gallons of fuel into the core stage tanks. They will check the four RS-25 engines, bringing them to the right temperature and pressure for a real start. Engineers will test communication between the engines and the rocket. They will also spin up auxiliary power units that help steer the rocket by moving the engine nozzles.

The countdown includes practice holds, resumes, and recycles in the final 10 minutes. Teams will do several runs: one from 49 hours out to 30 seconds, with holds at key points like T-1 minute 30 seconds and T-33 seconds. Then they recycle to T-10 minutes and go again to T-30 seconds. This builds confidence in handling real launch day glitches.

Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson oversees the effort. The test stops short of actual ignition, but it gets as close as possible.

"During several runs, the wet dress rehearsal will test the launch team's ability to hold, resume, and recycle to several different times in the final 10 minutes of the countdown."

• NASA statement

NASA plans a live stream of the rocket at the pad and a separate feed for the test. Real-time blog updates will cover the fueling.

The delay affects the launch window. It was set for February 6 to 10, but February 6 and 7 are now off the table. The new window starts February 8 to 11, or later if more issues arise. The crew is in quarantine in Houston, and managers are reviewing when they will arrive at the launch site.

What This Means

This test is make-or-break for Artemis 2. If it goes well, NASA can move to final launch prep. Problems could push the mission back days or weeks. The agency wants everything perfect for the first crewed SLS flight.

Artemis 2 paves the way for Artemis 3, which aims to land humans on the moon. Success here proves the rocket and ground systems work with people aboard. It also tests Orion's life support and flight path around the moon.

Weather plays a big role in space launches. Cold affects fuels and seals. NASA chose safety over speed, a common call in rocketry. Teams stay ready, with 24/7 monitoring.

The four astronauts — commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — trained for years. They will travel farther from Earth than any crew since Apollo. The mission lasts about 10 days.

Past wet dress rehearsals for Artemis 1 went smoothly after fixes. That uncrewed test launched in 2022. Lessons from it shaped this one. Ground crews practice every step to avoid surprises.

If the test succeeds on February 2, NASA will review data quickly. They set a firm launch date after that. Any extra delays mean day-for-day slips in the window. The rocket sits fueled briefly during the test, then drains for safety.

Florida's weather should warm up soon. Forecasts show better conditions by Monday. NASA keeps eyes on winds and temps. The pad crew works around the clock.

This step brings NASA closer to the moon. Teams report high readiness despite the delay. The world watches as history nears.