NASA Pushes Artemis 2 Moon Launch Due Cold

Cape Canaveral (Web Desk) – : NASA has postponed the earliest potential launch of its Artemis 2 Moon mission to February 8, citing forecasts of unusually cold temperatures at the Florida launch site. The delay comes two days later than originally planned.

The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket was scheduled for key fueling tests over the weekend, but Arctic air sweeping across the United States threatened to violate launch safety conditions. NASA crews are now aiming to complete final pre-launch tests on Monday, after which a definitive launch date will be determined.

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The Artemis 2 team of four astronauts remains in quarantine in Houston, while heaters atop the Orion capsule and purging systems are in place to maintain proper conditions despite freezing weather.

NASA is also coordinating closely with its upcoming Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), originally slated for February 11. Crew members expressed excitement about the possibility of overlapping space operations with the Artemis 2 team, noting that part of the Moon mission includes a scheduled call to the ISS.

The new February 8 launch window coincides with the Super Bowl, with liftoff planned for 11:20 pm local time (0420 GMT February 9).

Ken Bowersox, administrator at NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, emphasized careful planning to avoid conflicts between the Artemis 2 and ISS missions while keeping both schedules on track.