Tootfinder

While preparing #ArtemisII for flight, NASA engineers are reviewing data after a confidence test Feb. 12, in which operators partially filled the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage liquid hydrogen tank to assess newly replaced seals in an area used to fill the rocket with propellant: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/13/following-confidence-test-nasa-continues-artemis-ii-data-review/ - during the test, "teams encountered an issue with ground support equipment that reduced the flow of liquid hydrogen into the rocket. [...] Engineers will examine findings before setting a timeline for the next test, a second wet dress rehearsal this month. March remains the earliest potential launch window for Artemis II."

As NASA moves closer to launch of the #Artemis II test flight, the agency soon will roll its #SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad for the first time at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin final integration, testing, and launch rehearsals: #VehicleAssemblyBuilding to Launch Pad 39B.

So the #ArtemisII FRR went "go" on all counts, they hope to roll out the stack to the pad again on 19 March and be ready to launch on 1 April at 22:24 UTC - the table of possible launch dates in April https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf just had another one added for 2 April.

We have astronauts in quarantine for a moon flyby mission!
#artemis

RE: #Artemis

A live view of the #ArtemisII stack on the pad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCrPD7tfcr0 - where the countdown for the Wet Dress Rehearsal has begun at 1:13 UTC; see https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/31/countdown-begins-for-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal/ for the timeline and https://skyweek.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/generalprobe-wet-dress-rehearsal-fur-artemis-ii/ for maaany Artemis-related links going back to 2023.

Finally an #ArtemisII update on https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/08/nasa-conducts-repairs-analysis-ahead-of-next-artemis-ii-fueling-test/ - "technicians have replaced two seals in an area where operators saw higher than allowable hydrogen gas concentrations during the test. Engineers are analyzing the removed seals and developing plans to address all issues ahead of the next rehearsal." No date for that new wet dress rehearsal has been set, and a launch date will be determined only after it is over.

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on BBCRadio3's #EssentialClassics
Ludwig van Beethoven & Artemis Quartet:
🎵 String Quartet in A major Op.18`5 (2nd mvt)
#LudwigvanBeethoven #ArtemisQuartet
https://open.spotify.com/track/7l1efkDXbMUxAwe4IKrCAy

Artemis 2 - Zurück zum Mond - #ARD #mdr
#Artemis2 #ARDwissen

One more #ArtemisII piece in https://www.cbsnews.com/news/4-artemis-ii-astronauts-getting-ready-for-flight-to-far-side-of-the-moon-60-minutes-transcript/ (13-minutes video and transcript) - it also highlights the renewed 'race' between SpaceX and Blue Origin for building the Artemis III lander. And falsely claims that they are the first to actually show the Blue Moon MK1: see https://www.instagram.com/p/DRVZLMkkVgO/ from last November ...

The #Artemis stack on the pad in a good image from the ISS: https://x.com/Astro_ChrisW/status/2018365716181705015 - processed with IrfanView, using AutoAdjustColors and contrast adjustment. Meanwhile the Wet Dress Rehearsal is in trouble because of - you guessed it - a hydrogen leak. Since the updates on https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/ have become super-sparse it's hard to tell how serious the problem is.

In 10 minutes the #ArtemisII Fueling Test News Conference will stream at https://www.youtube.com/live/ycqk3uN_N6g - as announced in https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/03/nasa-conducts-artemis-ii-fuel-test-eyes-march-for-launch-opportunity/ and https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2018578937115271660 the first launch attempt has already been moved to March.

Pretty sobering read. i am excited humanity is going back to the moon and proud that a Canadian astronaut is getting a chance!
Losing them would be a huge setback for the prestige and trust in the USA space program, but also a symptom of long standing problems.
I wonder if the Canadian Space Agency would reconsider whether it wanted to continue with NASA. It's clear there is a lot of concern even inside NASA about the culture.
#Artemis #NASA #CSA #Moon #Space #trust
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/science/artemis-2-orion-capsule-heat-shield?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc&recs_exp=most-popular-article-end&tenant_id=popular.en

45 minutes til the simulated #ArtemisII launch, and according to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KYhqePsm38 and https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/19/live-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal-coverage/ the 2ns wet dress rehearsal is going to plan. How the outcome will be reported: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-coverage-of-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal/

RE: #ArtemisII WDR: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/03/artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal-test-terminated-at-t-515/ - a lot of unfinished business ...

NASA is taking steps to potentially roll back the #ArtemisII rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after overnight Feb. 21 observing interrupted flow of helium to the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/21/nasa-troubleshooting-artemis-ii-rocket-upper-stage-issue-preparing-to-roll-back/ - the upper stage uses helium to maintain the proper environmental conditions for the stage’s engine and to pressurize liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks; the systems worked during NASA’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsals, but teams were not able to properly flow helium during normal operations and reconfigurations following the wet dress rehearsal that concluded Feb. 19.

With the delay of the #ArtemisII WDR to Feb. 2 finally confirmed - #Crew12 pre-launch presser day: #NASA yet, but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5-5By97H_8 promises to carry the first presser at 16:00 UTC - beware: shocking preview image - while https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLxcA8Crpkg will carry the second one with the crew at 18:00 UTC).

The #ArtemisII roll-out is scheduled to begin at 12:00 UTC today (Saturday) and will last 8 to 12 hours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrVnsO_rdew = webcast, https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii-press-kit/ = mission press kit, https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/16/artemis-ii-moon-rocket-ready-for-big-move/ = the finished stack, ready to roll.

And now on #ArtemisII Update to discuss "the next steps": https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-to-discuss-next-steps-for-artemis-campaign/

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on BBCRadio3's #RoundMidnight
Artemis:
🎵 Komrebi
#Artemis
#Spotify

In the 20-minutes interview #Artemis program was changed. And the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Annual Report https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-aerospace-safety-advisory-panel-releases-2025-annual-report/ also has something to say.

And the #ArtemisII stack is back in the VAB, arriving around 1:00 UTC today: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/25/nasa-artemis-ii-rocket-returns-for-repairs/ - while in the assembly building, technicians will troubleshoot the helium flow issue to the rocket’s upper stage, replace batteries on the rocket’s upper stage, core stage, and solid rocket boosters as well as service its flight termination system.

Due to weather, NASA now is targeting early Wednesday, Feb. 25, to roll the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for #ArtemisII off the launch pad and back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/23/nasa-targets-artemis-ii-rollback-on-wednesday/ - cold temperatures and high winds are expected Tuesday, and rolling on Feb. 25, gives teams enough time to complete preparations at the launch pad that were limited today by high winds in the area.

"After running through terminal count for the #ArtemisII wet dress rehearsal, the launch team paused the clock at T-33 seconds in the countdown," says https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/19/live-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal-coverage/: "Teams are now reconfiguring and replenishing the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems, in order to recycle back to the T-10 minute mark and perform another run of terminal count. [...] The entire recycle process lasts approximately 60 to 90 minutes."

A the press conference #ArtemisII launch after the WDR went so well - see also https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/19/nasa-begins-artemis-ii-launch-pad-ops-after-successful-fuel-test/ issued just after it had ended - but this will not be confirmed before the Flight Readiness Review late next week.