After fueling test, optimism grows for March launch of Artemis II to the Moon
A second fueling test on NASA's Space Launch System rocket ended Thursday night, giving senior managers enough confidence to move forward with plans to launch four astronauts around the Moon as soon as March 6.
Unlike the first attempt to load propellants into the SLS rocket on February 2, there were no major leaks during Thursday's practice countdown at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Technicians swapped seals at the launch pad after hydrogen gas leaked from the rocket's main fueling line earlier this month. This time, the seals held.
"For the most part, those fixes all performed pretty well yesterday," said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA's exploration programs. "We were able to fully fuel the SLS rocket within the planned timeline."