NASA successfully completed a full rehearsal of the launch of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Thursday, a critical step toward sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the Artemis program, aiming to re-establish a human presence beyond Earth orbit.
This was the second full-scale test for the Artemis 2 mission. An initial attempt earlier in February was halted due to technical issues.
According to NASA, the rehearsal proceeded as planned. The agency expects to announce a firm launch date for the mission on Friday.
Previous issues, identified in early February, included a hydrogen leak that dashed hopes of a launch within the same month.
The rehearsal, conducted at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, saw engineers meticulously repeat all procedures required on launch day.
NASA reported that the hydrogen fuel loading process went smoothly on Thursday, calling it a “major milestone.”
The Artemis 2 mission will mark the first crewed flight around the Moon in more than half a century, with a crew consisting of three Americans and one Canadian astronaut.
“Safety remains our top priority,” NASA Director Jared Isaacman stated earlier this month on X.
cha/eml/cr/dga/arm
