NASA Conducts Second Rehearsal of Artemis 2 Lunar Launch

Washington: NASA on Thursday was conducting a new rehearsal for the launch of its massive SLS rocket, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years as part of the Artemis 2 mission.

Technical problems in early February interrupted the first rehearsal, called a wet dress rehearsal.

The mishap, which also included a leak of liquid hydrogen, dashed hopes for a rise this month and pushed back the earliest possible launch date to March 6.

If Thursday’s tests are successful, NASA will set a definitive date for the mission.

The wet dress rehearsal takes place under real conditions (with full rocket tanks and technical controls) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where engineers practice the maneuvers needed to achieve a real launch.

The Artemis 2 mission will be the first crewed mission to fly past the Moon in more than 50 years, with three Americans and one Canadian participating.