NASA Postpones Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Due to Cold Weather
NASA has delayed the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to February 2, 2026, due to near-freezing temperatures at Kennedy Space Center, pushing the earliest possible launch date to February 8.
NASA has rescheduled the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal to February 2, 2026, citing near-freezing temperatures at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The wet dress rehearsal involves loading the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants and conducting a simulated countdown to 33 seconds before liftoff.
"Teams and preparations at the launch pad remain ready for the wet dress rehearsal," NASA stated. "However, adjusting the timeline for the test will position NASA for success during the rehearsal, as the expected weather this weekend would violate launch conditions."
The Artemis II mission aims to send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon. The earliest possible launch date is now February 8, 2026, pending the outcome of the wet dress rehearsal and favorable weather conditions.