Summary

NASA has successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis 2 mission, bringing the agency closer to launching astronauts around the Moon for the first time since 1972. The mission could launch within weeks following the successful test.

Key Facts

• Wet dress rehearsal for Artemis 2 has been successfully completed
• The mission would be the first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972
• Launch could occur within weeks pending final preparations

Context

The Artemis 2 mission will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby, serving as a precursor to later missions that will land humans on the Moon's surface. The wet dress rehearsal is a critical pre-launch test that involves loading propellant into the rocket and running through countdown procedures without actually launching.

This mission represents a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. The successful completion of testing procedures indicates the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft are nearing flight readiness.

Sources

• Gizmodo