NASA targets late June for dress rehearsal of mega moon rocket
Technical issues caused the agency to postpone the previous dress rehearsal
Lightning strikes NASA launch complex
Lightning struck the area around the Artemis I wet dress rehearsal on Saturday
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – NASA says after weeks of inspections and repairs, the agency is almost ready to roll its mega moon rocket to the launch complex at the Kennedy Space Center and retry a critical wet dress rehearsal that was plagued by failures during a previous attempt.
If engineers remain on schedule, the Artemis I Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will be rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launchpad on June 6, with a full rundown test happening no earlier than June 19.
The agency was unsuccessful in completing the wet dress rehearsal in April due to a series of technical issues that included a faulty helium check vale and concern over leaks.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV
NASA believes its team has addressed the issues but will be keeping a wary eye on the sky for pop-up showers and thunderstorms that are usually almost a daily occurrence in the Sunshine State.
The Space Coast and NASA are susceptible to lightning strikes, which can cause havoc on operations.
![]()
Image 1 of 11The Artemis I Space Launch System rocket inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. (NASA)
![]()
Image 2 of 11Three manikins will take part in the Artemis I mission. (German Aerospace Center)
![]()
Image 3 of 11NASA will roll the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B in late May to complete the wet dress rehearsal. (NASA)
![]()
Image 4 of 11A leak of liquid hydrogen forced NASA to delay the dress rehearsal. (NASA)
![]()
Image 5 of 11The Artemis I wet dress rehearsal test is slated to restart on April 12. (NASA)
![]()
Image 6 of 11The massive rocket was moved to the launchpad 39B in March. (NASA)
![The Artemis-1 mission rocket rolls slowly to launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on March 17, 2022.]()
Image 7 of 11The Artemis-1 mission rocket rolls slowly to launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on March 17, 2022. ( )
![The Moon is seen rising behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASA’s Artemis I flight test, the fully stacked and integrated SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to verify systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)]()
Image 8 of 11The Moon is seen rising behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASA’s Artemis I flight test, the fully stacked and integrated SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to verify systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani) ( )
![The SLS and Orion spacecraft slowly roll to launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on March 17, 2022.]()
Image 9 of 11The Artemis-1 SLS and Orion spacecraft slowly roll to launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on March 17, 2022. (Image: Emilee Speck/FOX Weather) ( )
![Artemis-1, the Space Launch System and Orion, emerge from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.]()
Image 10 of 11Artemis-1, the Space Launch System and Orion, emerge from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. (Image: Emilee Speck/FOX Weather) ( )
![Artemis-1, the Space Launch System and Orion, emerge from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. (Image: Emilee Speck/FOX Weather)]()
Image 11 of 11Artemis-1, the Space Launch System and Orion, emerge from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. (Image: Emilee Speck/FOX Weather) ( )
The upcoming rehearsal is expected to include loading 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel into the rocket but stop short of igniting the engines.
If the lengthy test is successful, the Artemis I rocket stack will be rolled back to the VAB, where it’ll undergo preparations for a launch.
MEET THE MANIKINS THAT WILL HITCH A RIDE ON NASA’S MOON ROCKET
The space agency has not ruled out attempting an uncrewed launch of the SLC rocket and Orion spacecraft during the late summer.
Depending on the results of the Artemis I mission, NASA could proceed with sending humans to the moon aboard a future launch with the ambition of eventually reaching Mars by 2040.