NASA is preparing to conduct a second dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission launch. It is scheduled for February 19.
The dress rehearsal (known as a “wet dress rehearsal”) is a crucial test before the launch of the Artemis II mission, during which the Orion spacecraft with four astronauts will fly around the Moon. In its course, engineers completely fill the SLS rocket with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and then conduct a countdown rehearsal.
The first attempt to conduct a “wet dress rehearsal” took place on February 3. However, due to hydrogen leaks detected during the rehearsal, NASA had to interrupt the operation. After that, the rocket’s tanks were emptied of fuel, after which it was delivered to the Vertical Assembly Building, and specialists began repairing it.
According to an official statement from NASA, the new rehearsal will take place on February 19. It will be broadcast live on the aerospace administration’s YouTube channel.
If the procedure is successful, NASA plans to issue a statement officially announcing the launch date for the Artemis II mission. The nearest launch windows for the flight to the Moon will be open between March 6 and 9, as well as on March 11.
At the same time, there is no guarantee that the repeat rehearsal will be successful. During the Artemis I mission in 2022, engineers needed several attempts before they managed to eliminate all fuel leaks. As a result, the SLS launch did not take place in May, but only in November 2022.
You can find out more about the Artemis II mission flight plan in our article.
