NASA Leadership Shed Light on Moon Mission Dress Rehearsal

The decision was made to push Artemis II’s launch to no earlier than March 6.

NASA’s Orion crew capsule sits atop the Space Launch System moon rocket ahead of the Artemis II mission on Launch Complex 39-B at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2026. T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Initial results from NASA’s launch-day dress rehearsal for the first crewed mission around the moon in more than 50 years convinced mission leaders to wait at least another month before trying to fly.

They announced their decision only a few hours after the practice run was stopped early on Feb. 3 due to a persistent fuel leak.