NASA's Moon Rocket Fueled for Historic Test Flight

NASA conducted a pivotal make-or-break fueling test of its new moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), on Monday, February 3, 2026. The 322-foot rocket was loaded with over 700,000 gallons of super-cold hydrogen and oxygen at the Kennedy Space Center.

This all-day operation, with the crew of three Americans and one Canadian monitoring remotely from Houston, is essential to determine the launch date for the first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years. The team began the practice countdown on Saturday night, two days behind schedule due to recent cold weather.

Launch managers expressed confidence that previous issues, such as hydrogen leaks that delayed the rocket in 2022, have been resolved. If the fueling demonstration is successful, NASA aims to launch commander Reid Wiseman and his crew as early as Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The mission, lasting approximately 10 days, will involve the astronauts flying past the moon and around its far side, focusing on testing the capsule's critical life support and other systems. This mission is part of the Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the moon and set the stage for future landings. The launch window is constrained, with the mission needing to fly by February 11, 2026, or be postponed until March due to lunar orbit mechanics and already shortened February launch opportunities.