NASA targets march 6 to launch four astronauts to Moon on Artemis II mission | World News

NASA announced that it is targeting March 6 for the launch of the upcoming crewed lunar mission, following the successful completion of the critical wet suit rehearsal and the resolution of fuel leaks detected during previous tests.

The wet dress rehearsal, an extensive countdown simulation involving the loading of super-cooled propellants into the rocket, was successfully conducted this week.

During the initial trial, engineers discovered hydrogen leaks, leading to a postponement and a detailed technical assessment to identify and fix the problem. NASA officials confirmed that the leaks have since been addressed and that the latest round of testing showed no signs of the earlier problem reoccurring.

“The wet test was successful and we were able to fix the leaks observed in the first attempt,” NASA said in a statement.

“We will now move into a comprehensive review process and scan every system of the Space Launch System rocket before certification,” he added.

The Space Launch System (SLS), described as the most powerful rocket developed by NASA to date, will carry astronauts to the Orion spacecraft.

The mission aims to advance the agency’s goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and represents a significant step in the broader lunar exploration program.

The Formal Flight Readiness Review (FRR) is scheduled to be completed by the end of next week.

During this review, mission managers, engineers, and safety officers will thoroughly analyze data collected from the wet suit rehearsal along with results from other system evaluations before giving final approval for takeoff.

NASA emphasized that safety remains a top priority. Teams will conduct an extensive certification process by closely examining propulsion systems, avionics, life support mechanisms and ground operations to ensure the launch vehicle meets all flight requirements. In parallel, the astronaut crew is expected to enter “soft quarantine” in the coming days.

This routine precaution is designed to minimize exposure to illness and ensure crew members remain in optimal health prior to the mission.