NASA Updates Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal, Launch Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/30/nasa-updates-artemis-ii-wet-dress-rehearsal-launch-opportunities/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nn20260104 NASA is now aiming for Monday, Feb. 2, as the tanking day for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shift is due to weather, and it means the earliest possible launch opportunity is no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 8. Over the past several days, teams have been keeping a close eye on the cold temperatures and strong winds moving through Florida. With a rare arctic outbreak in the forecast, managers have assessed hardware capabilities against the projected forecasts and decided it was best to adjust the schedule. Teams and preparations at the launchpad remain ready for the wet dress rehearsal, but the updated timeline will position NASA for success during the rehearsal, as the expected weather this weekend would violate launch conditions. The simulated launch window for the wet dress rehearsal begins at 9 p.m. EST on Feb. 2, with the countdown starting about 49 hours earlier. NASA will continue watching the weather as the test approaches. A 24/7 livestream of the rocket at the pad is available on YouTube, and the Artemis II crew remains in quarantine in Houston.