CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA mission managers have officially adjusted the schedule for the historic Artemis II mission, as an unusual arctic outbreak sweeping through Florida brings near-freezing temperatures and high winds to the Space Coast.
The agency announced Friday that the pivotal wet dress rehearsal—a critical fueling test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket—is now scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2. This shift means the earliest possible launch for the four-person crew is now Sunday, Feb. 8.
Weather Forces Tactical Shift
For the past several days, engineers at Kennedy Space Center have been closely monitoring a rare cold front. After assessing hardware capabilities against the biting winds and projected temperatures, managers decided to move the fueling operations to ensure the safety of the sensitive spacecraft components.
“Adjusting the timeline for the test will position NASA for success during the rehearsal, as the expected weather this weekend would violate launch conditions,” the agency stated in an update.
During the cold snap, teams have taken the following precautions:
- Orion Powered Up: The spacecraft remains powered to maintain internal systems.
- Heater Configuration: Heaters have been specifically adjusted for the colder-than-normal Florida temperatures.
- Environmental Purges: Systems used to maintain proper conditions for the rocket’s booster aft skirts and other elements have been reconfigured.
The New Countdown
The simulated launch window for the wet dress rehearsal is set to begin at 9 p.m. EST on Feb. 2. The 49-hour countdown leading up to this will begin over the weekend. Because of this adjustment, previously potential launch dates on Feb. 6 and 7 are no longer viable. NASA emphasized that any further delays will likely result in a “day-for-day” change to the schedule.
Crew Status
The Artemis II crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—remains in health stabilization quarantine in Houston. NASA is currently reassessing the timeline for their arrival at the launch site.
How to Watch
Space enthusiasts can still monitor the SLS rocket via NASA’s 24/7 live stream from Launch Pad 39B. A separate feed will be provided specifically for the wet dress rehearsal activities on Monday, along with real-time blog updates as the teams begin the complex process of loading super-cold propellants into the rocket.
