NASA says it is now targeting a March launch for its new moon rocket after encountering fuel leaks during a crucial test

The full moon rises as Artemis II sits on Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center February 1, 2026. The Space Launch System rocket will undergo testing this week to determine its readines

NASA is moving its Artemis II launch to March to address issues that arose during a wet dress rehearsal. This mission will send four astronauts around the moon.

NASA's long-awaited moonshot with astronauts is off until at least March because of hydrogen fuel leaks that marred the dress rehearsal of its giant new rocket. It's the same problem that delayed the Space Launch System rocket's debut three years ago.

NASA said Tuesday that the launch of its Artemis II moon mission will be pushed back to March after fuel leaks were found during a test run this week.

NASA has delayed its Artemis 2 moon launch until March at the earliest, after encountering some issues during a key prelaunch exercise known as a wet dress rehearsal.

NASA said Tuesday it was delaying its mission to send four astronauts on a journey around the moon, after issues arose during a critical test of its enormous rocket

It's not yet known whether the hydrogen leak encountered Monday will impact the moonshot's eventual launch date.