NASA has officially hit “reset” on the countdown for its second wet dress rehearsal. After a previous attempt in early February was thwarted by stubborn liquid hydrogen leaks, engineers at Kennedy Space Center are back at it, hoping their recent hardware fixes hold up under pressure.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Game Plan
- The Big Day: The “tanking” phase is set for Thursday, February 19.
- The Mission: Teams will pump 700,000+ gallons of cryogenic propellant into the SLS rocket to see if the new seals and filters can handle the “big chill” without leaking.
- The Stakes: This is a do-or-die test for the timeline. If it passes, we move toward a flight; if it leaks again, the schedule slips further.
Revised Launch Windows
Because of these technical hurdles, the launch has officially shifted from February into the spring:
| Window | Timing |
| Primary | March 6 – 11, 2026 |
| Backup | April 1 – 6, 2026 |
Bottom Line: NASA isn’t taking any risks with the crew of four—Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen. They want a “dry” rocket (no leaks) before they commit to a “wet” launch.
