NASA's Artemis II Pushed Back: Launch delayed till March 2026 after hydrogen leak in key tests

NASA now will target March as the earliest possible launch opportunity for Artemis II. (Image: NASA)

• NASA delays Artemis II crewed launch to March 2026 after rehearsal issues.
• Hydrogen leak and hardware issues found during prelaunch test, repairs underway
• A second Wet Dress Rehearsal will precede final scheduling for the Moon mission

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NASA has postponed the first crewed Artemis II mission to March. The February launch window is now officially off the table. The delay follows the completion of the first Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). This prelaunch test is designed to find problems on the ground. It ensures a safer and more successful mission for astronauts. With March as the potential launch window, teams will fully review data from the test, mitigate each issue, and return to testing ahead of setting an official target launch date.

What Happened During the Wet Dress Rehearsal?

Engineers encountered a liquid hydrogen leak at the SLS core interface. Multiple pauses were needed to warm hardware and reseat seals. Propellant flow was also adjusted several times for safety. All tanks in both the SLS core and cryogenic stage were filled. A terminal countdown reached T‑5 minutes 15 seconds before an automatic halt. The system stopped after the hydrogen leak rate increased.

Challenges faced by Orion Module 

Orion closeout operations took longer than expected. Extra work was needed on a crew module hatch valve. Cold weather caused intermittent audio dropouts and affected some cameras. Teams successfully demonstrated updated purge procedures using breathing air instead of nitrogen. This improves crew safety during final preparations in the White Room.

🚨Artemis II Launch Pushed Back

During propellant loading in the wet dress rehearsal, engineers detected a liquid hydrogen leak at the ground to rocket interface. When leak rates exceed limits, you have to stop. This wasn't a surprise failure either. Artemis I had similar… pic.twitter.com/bamAlfmcKq — Skywatch Signal (@UAPWatchers) February 3, 2026

Updated Launch date and Time for Artemis II

NASA is now targeting March 2026 as the earliest launch window. The exact date and time will be confirmed after all issues are resolved. Though the estimated dates ofor the launch is between 6th to 11th Match. Teams will complete repairs, updates and a second Wet Dress Rehearsal before final scheduling. Once ready, Artemis II will begin its historic crewed journey around the Moon.

Why the Delay of Artemis II Matters?

The Wet Dress Rehearsal exists to catch problems before launch day. It maximises the chance of a successful and safe mission. NASA teams expected challenges due to over three years between SLS launches. Delaying to March allows time to analyse data, troubleshoot and repair.

Next Steps for Artemis II

NASA will now review all WDR data carefully. Teams will fix the hydrogen leak and other technical issues. Additional repairs and updates will be completed as required. A second Wet Dress Rehearsal will then be conducted. The mission will target the earliest possible March launch window once ready.