NASA will make fourth attempt to test Artemis I moon rocket in June

NASA will make another attempt in June to fuel its Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis I lunar mission. That tells the space agency to American media. NASA had to abandon the previous three attempts to do so.

NASA tells including to Space.com that it has made progress with regard to the problems encountered during the conduct of so-called wet dress rehearsals. The space agency made three attempts in April to carry out such a test. During a wet dress rehearsal, the Space Launch System rocket is filled with fuel. The launch procedure is then run through and aborted at the last moment.

During the previous three attempts, NASA encountered problems with the launch pad and a leak when refueling the SLS rocket. The next attempt is now expected in June, the space agency says. NASA expressed confidence that the fourth attempt will succeed, but also admits that it “may take even more than one attempt” to successfully complete the test procedures.

If the test goes well in June, NASA says the SLS rocket could not be used for the Artemis I mission until August at the earliest. That launch was previously planned for the spring, but has been postponed several times in recent months. The Artemis I mission launches the SLS rocket and an Orion capsule to the moon without a crew. Artemis III is planned for 2025, which will actually bring astronauts to the moon in collaboration with SpaceX.

A render of the SLS missile. Image through NASA