Tootfinder

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.

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.

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 ...

The Wet Dress Rehearsal for #ArtemisII has begun in earnest with the tanking of the SLS Core stage now underway as planned: frequent updates on https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zDlM8d4Q7g (the pictures here from https://images.nasa.gov/ show yesterday's sunrise and moonrise behind the stack on the pad).

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 ...

Need to get 'into the mood' about #ArtemisII? The 27-minute feature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMoXNq2n9_Y from NBC News could do the job.

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.

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).

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/

Too cold in Florida ... "Multiple sources" have told #ArtemisII "is slipping 48 hours because of expected freezing weather and high winds along Florida's Space Coast this weekend; there is no confirmation from NASA, but also no confirmation the practice countdown is actually underway as it would be if the test was on track".

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.

Cool picture of the #ArtemisII stack in front of the first quarter #Moon at the #KSC - supplied by ULA: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/55063964129/

Near the end of a sad journey ... the #ArtemisII stack almost back at the VAB after crawling for 9 1/2 hours, from the live feed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCrPD7tfcr0 - see https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/ for updates.

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.

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.

"The #ArtemisII wet dress rehearsal ended today at 10:16 p.m., concluding as planned at T-29 seconds in the countdown."

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/

"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.

The #ArtemisII roll-out seen from orbit with 30 cm resolution by the Pleiades NEO 3 satellite - from https://bsky.app/profile/spacefromspace.com/post/3mcnxxeada22g

The #ArtemisII stack has reached launch pad 39B at the KSC: NASA album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720331471551

A NASA #ArtemisII Crew Rollout Media Event is now streaming on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTs799cmxBc

The roll-out of the #ArtemisII stack has begun at 12:05 UTC according to the webcast https://www.youtube.com/live/eXolMVSTX0I which offers occasional commentary - the rocket should emerge from the VAB in about an hour.

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.

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."

In 5 minutes a NASA #ArtemisII Rollout and Mission Overview News Conference on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn9lZtMXFxQ