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Key Artemis Rehearsal Halted - Videos from The Weather Channel
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Key Artemis Rehearsal Halted

February 3, 2026

NASA’s mission to send astronauts around the moon will have to wait until at least March after a key test of its new rocket had to be called off. The wet dress rehearsal of the Artemis II was canceled early Tuesday when a hydrogen leak was discovered. Launch controllers began loading the 322-foot rocket with super-cold hydrogen and oxygen at midday. More than 700,000 gallons had to flow into the tanks and remain on board for several hours, mimicking the final stages of an actual countdown. Excessive hydrogen quickly built up near the bottom of the rocket. Hydrogen loading was halted at least twice. NASA announced it would skip February’s launch window for the mission around the moon, which extended from Friday through Feb. 11. The space agency has said there are available launch opportunities from March 6-9, and on March 11, with additional dates in April, if needed.