"NASA aims to send astronauts to the moon in March after acing the latest rocket fueling test. Administrator Jared Isaacman said Friday that launch teams made "major progress" between the first countdown rehearsal, which was disrupted by hydrogen leaks earlier this month, and the second test, which was completed without significant seepage Thursday night."
"Technicians replaced two seals, leading to Thursday's successful rerun. The countdown clocks went all the way down to the desired 29-second mark. The fixes worked, but there's still pending work including conducting a flight readiness review, said NASA's Lori Glaze. Commander Reid Wiseman and two of his crew monitored Thursday's operation alongside launch controllers. The astronauts will be the first to fly to the moon since Apollo 17 closed out NASA's first chapter in moon exploration in 1972."
NASA aims to launch four astronauts on Artemis II as early as March 6 following a successful rocket fueling test that addressed earlier hydrogen leaks. Administrator Jared Isaacman said launch teams made "major progress" between a disrupted first countdown rehearsal and a second test completed without significant seepage. Technicians replaced two seals, enabling a successful rerun that advanced the countdown to the desired 29-second mark. The agency has only five March launch days before pausing operations until April. Additional steps remain, including a flight readiness review. Commander Reid Wiseman and crew monitored the test; they would be the first lunar flyers since Apollo 17 in 1972.
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