NASA's Artemis 2 mission is gearing up for a critical fueling test, marking a significant step toward the first astronaut trip around the moon in over 50 years. The countdown began at 8:13 p.m. EST (2313 GMT), setting the stage for a 'wet dress rehearsal' on February 2nd. This rehearsal involves loading cryogenic liquid propellant into the SLS rocket's tanks, conducting a launch countdown, and draining the tanks to practice scrub procedures. These steps ensure the team is fully prepared for launch day, which is currently targeted for February 8th, with additional windows in March and April. The Artemis 2 mission will last about 10 days, sending four astronauts around the moon on an Orion spacecraft atop NASA's giant Space Launch System megarocket.
