LIVE: NASA on results of second rehearsal for Artemis II
TL;DR
NASA officials confirmed the successful completion of Artemis II's second wet dress rehearsal, resolving previous hydrogen seal leaks and validating launch countdown procedures. The agency is now targeting March 6 as the earliest launch date, pending a Flight Readiness Review and final pad preparations.
🚀 Wet Dress Rehearsal 2 Success 3 insights
Full tanking completed on schedule
The SLS rocket was fully loaded with cryogenic propellants within the planned timeline, demonstrating successful preparation for launch day operations.
Launch countdown validated with new procedures
The team successfully demonstrated the terminal count sequence including a first-ever 3-minute MPS hold constraint and completed a recycle procedure with cryogenically fueled hardware in 57 minutes.
Crew module closeout demonstrated
The closeout crew successfully performed all activities to seal the Orion crew module hatch within timeline parameters.
🔧 Technical Fixes and Performance 3 insights
Seal replacements eliminated hydrogen leaks
Engineers replaced both 8-inch and 4-inch seals at the quick disconnect interface, reducing leak rates to approximately 1% or less—well below the 16% limit and significantly improved from Wet Dress Rehearsal 1.
Pre-test hydrogen integrity test confirmed fixes
A mini-tanking test conducted between rehearsals helped pinpoint the 8-inch seal as the primary leak source, validating the remediation strategy before full vehicle loading.
Minor communication issue unrelated to tanking
The only significant anomaly during the test involved a comm system issue that did not impact cryogenic loading operations or vehicle systems.
📅 Path to Launch 3 insights
March 6 targeted as earliest launch attempt
Following the successful rehearsal, NASA established March 6 as the target launch date contingent on completing a multi-day Flight Readiness Review scheduled for the end of next week.
Critical pad work remains
Before launch, teams must install contingency pad access platforms and complete a Flight Termination System retest, requiring several days of work at Launch Pad 39B.
Crew enters pre-launch quarantine
Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen began soft quarantine at Johnson Space Center and will transfer to Kennedy Space Center approximately five days before launch.
Bottom Line
With critical seal leaks resolved and launch procedures validated through successful wet dress rehearsal, NASA is positioned for a March 6 launch attempt assuming the upcoming Flight Readiness Review and final pad preparations are completed without issue.
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