NASA's Artemis II mission is targeting a March 6 launch after a successful fueling test Thursday night at Kennedy Space Center. The practice countdown, known as a Wet Dress Rehearsal, went smoothly with no major leaks after technicians replaced seals on the rocket's main fueling line. Acting associate administrator Lori Glaze confirmed the team could fully fuel the Space Launch System rocket within the planned timeline.

This marks a significant turnaround from the first fueling attempt on February 2, which was plagued by hydrogen leaks that forced NASA to scrub the test. The leaks exceeded safety limits and caused multiple delays during the countdown. After replacing the faulty seals, Thursday's test showed hydrogen concentrations at just 1.6 percent - well below NASA's 16 percent safety threshold. The successful test keeps the mission on track for a potential launch window opening at 8:29 pm EST on March 6.

The Artemis II mission will carry four astronauts - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen - on a 9-10 day journey around the Moon. This crew will travel farther from Earth than any humans in history and become the first to fly near the Moon since 1972. The mission serves as a critical precursor to planned lunar landings at the Moon's south pole, with NASA aiming to land astronauts by 2028. A successful flight would validate the readiness of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for future deep space missions.