NASA aims to send astronauts to the moon in March after acing the latest rocket fueling test.
The test was “a big step toward America’s return to the lunar environment," Isaacman said on the social media platform X.on the Artemis II lunar fly-around as soon as March 6 from Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
To keep their options open, the three Americans and one Canadian plan to go into the mandatory two-week health quarantine Friday night. The space agency has only five days in March to launch the crew aboard the Space Launch System rocket, before standing down until April. February's opportunities evaporated after dangerous amounts of liquid hydrogen leaked during the first fueling demonstration. Technicians replaced two seals, leading to Thursday's successful rerun. The countdown clocks went all the way down to the desired 29-second mark. The fixes worked, but there's still pending work including conducting a flight readiness review, said NASA's Lori Glaze. Commander Reid Wiseman and two of his crew monitored Thursday's operation alongside launch controllers. The astronauts will be the first to fly to the moon since Apollo 17 closed out NASA's first chapter in moon exploration in 1972.The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.St. Johns Technical High to merge with St. Augustine High next academic school yearFrom coffee-table classics to ‘Bold’: New Jacksonville magazine honors Black legacy mediaJacksonville family sleeping in truck seeks help after house fire destroyed everything19-year-old charged in Magnolia Gardens shooting that injured 4, including Raines High studentDoes Jacksonville have the potential to be a little Hollywood?Voices of the 904: Live from LaVilla edition - A conversation on Black history and cultureJEA board nominee withdraws amid criticism over councilman’s text messages citing ‘big favor’PV Girls Hoops Playoff PrepInspection forces Jacksonville wholesale warehouse to close; Owner seeks donations to reopenConfidence grows for coaches as the bill for better pay picks up steam in Florida.St. Johns County parents express sympathy for family of 12-year-old killed in crash4:13Passion 4 Pets Adoption Event Returns Feb. 21 at Dogtopia of Jacksonville Beach BoulevardBlack History Month Spotlight: Al PeteFuture Snyder Memorial Church to be discussed at DIA meetingCommunity mourns death of student killed in St. Johns County crashMortgate rates dip to the 5% range for the first time since 2023Working in the garden to get ready for SpringJacksonville TikToker uncovers account posting women, children without their consentLocal civil rights leader talks history and legacy of Jesse Jackson2026 High School 9:12 Media DayAbuse, neglect allegations prompt request for state to investigate Union County Animal ControlEpiscopal Boys Soccer Prepares for Semis
Reid Wiseman Jared Isaacman Lori Glaze
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