NASA's Critical Countdown for Lunar Mission: Artemis II Preparations Underway

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:25:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

NASA initiates critical countdown for Artemis II mission, preparing to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time since 1972, with potential launch just days away.

NASA has commenced a two-day practice countdown in Florida for its Artemis II mission, which aims to send astronauts on a lunar flyby after more than 50 years. Following a successful fueling test, the mission could launch in early February, marking a historic return of humans to the moon’s orbit, with a mission duration of nearly 10 days.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has embarked on a critical two-day countdown as part of the preparations for its upcoming Artemis II mission, aimed at returning astronauts to lunar orbit for the first time since the Apollo program in 1972. The countdown is a crucial precursor to the fueling of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is expected to occur shortly.

Commander Reid Wiseman, along with his crew, will monitor the rehearsal from NASA's Houston base, remaining in quarantine to minimize germ exposure before their launch to the Kennedy Space Center. The rocket, standing at 322 feet tall, was positioned on the launch pad two weeks ago and awaits a successful fueling test to confirm launch readiness.

The fueling process is expected to commence soon, involving the transfer of over 700,000 gallons of super-cold propellant into the rocket's tank, stopping just short of igniting the engines. Following a previous delay due to extreme cold weather, the earliest possible launch date is now set for February 8.

Once launched, the Artemis II mission will see a well-rounded team of U.S. and Canadian astronauts embarking on a nearly 10-day journey, where they will fly around the moon and return, marking a significant step in NASA's efforts to establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface and beyond.

NASA's Apollo program previously sent 24 astronauts to the moon, with 12 actually walking on its surface. The Artemis program aims to create a sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of the decade, focusing on scientific research and exploration in partnership with international and commercial entities.