A rollback to the VAB for Artemis II removes the March launch window from consideration.
The earliest possible launch date for Artemis II after the delay is April 1 at 22:24 UTC.
The Artemis II vehicle is currently in a safe configuration using ground environmental control system (ECS) purge for the engines instead of the onboard helium supply.
Accessing and remediating the potential helium-flow faults on Artemis II can only be performed in the VAB.
Resolving the helium loading issue on Artemis II will likely require a rollback of the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
NASA is proceeding with a possible launch attempt and is targeting March 6, 2026 as the earliest Artemis II launch attempt.
The March 6, 2026 Artemis II launch opportunity has a 120-minute launch window that opens at 8:29 p.m. EST.
Additional Artemis II launch windows in March 2026 are available on March 7, 8, 9, and 11.
NASA completed a wet dress rehearsal for Artemis II that NASA characterized as successful.
NASA plans to conduct one more pad closeout demo prior to the Artemis II launch attempt.
The second Wet Dress Rehearsal for Artemis II encountered only minor issues that remain to be worked.
The Artemis II crew watched part of the wet dress rehearsal and will enter a soft quarantine starting at Johnson Space Center in Houston before relocating to Kennedy Space Center to continue quarantine.
The Artemis II launch date is pending completion of a Flight Readiness Review and remaining work at the pad.
NASA completed the second Wet Dress Rehearsal (second fueling test) for the Artemis II Moon mission.
Artemis II’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft stood vertical on Mobile Launcher 1 at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 10, 2026.
NASA will conduct a second wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II flight test on Thursday, February 19 (early Friday, February 20 in Spain).
NASA administrators determined March 6 is the earliest possible Artemis II launch date, allowing time for a second wet dress rehearsal, data review, and transition of the launch pad, rocket, and spacecraft to launch operations.
NASA will not set a formal Artemis II launch date until after a successful wet dress rehearsal and a review of test data.
The Artemis II crew will not participate in the wet dress rehearsal, but a staff team will go to the launch pad to practice Orion spacecraft closeout operations, including closing the vehicle hatches.
A formal Artemis II launch date will be set only after the wet dress rehearsal and subsequent data reviews.