NASA pumps 2.8 million liters of fuel in historic Artemis 2 rehearsal

NASA successfully completed a critical wet dress rehearsal (WDR) for the Artemis 2 mission at Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone toward returning humans to the moon. Over two days, the team tested the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft through full pre-launch procedures, including fueling the rocket with 2.76 million liters (730,000 gallons) of propellant. A key achievement was resolving a recurring liquid hydrogen leak issue by replacing seals, allowing the rocket’s tanks to remain stable and pressurized throughout fueling. The rehearsal also involved securing the Orion capsule’s hatch, verifying emergency systems, and conducting two simulated terminal countdowns, bringing the mission closer to a crewed launch planned as early as March 6, with a backup window in April. Artemis 2 will be the first human spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo, carrying four astronauts—NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—on a